He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 86

(86) The Empire of Lodi Also Runs

It was late April, before Napoleon even reached the Po River.

“What on earth is Beaulieu doing!”

The 70-year-old veteran, who had spent over half a century on the battlefield, believed that war was a chain of offense and defense.

For instance, attacking should be met with a defense, which is the standard in warfare.

From this perspective, one-sided battles are rare.

Unless the enemy completely gives up on fighting or exposes a complete weakness.

It wasn’t that the veteran was wrong; most battlefields in the 18th century were like that.

Armies usually collapse when morale breaks down and everyone flees.

However, the news arriving in Vienna was completely different.

The veteran, Commander-in-Chief of the Austrian forces on the Rhine, Field Marshal Wurmser, threw down the report and roared.

“This is worse than giving up! What must His Imperial Majesty Emperor Franz of the Holy Roman Empire be thinking? His own inheritance is about to be invaded!”

It wasn’t the nation’s territory at stake, but the family’s inheritance.

This was a unique problem of the medieval state system, the Holy Roman Empire.

In fact, Austria isn’t the official name of the country.

It refers to the central axis of the Holy Roman Empire, a legacy of the old Middle Ages.

Strictly speaking, it’s a collection of fiefs owned by the imperial family, the Habsburgs.

However, its size is considerable, with territory and population that could be called a great power in Europe.

The problem is that the territories are scattered, and the residents even speak different languages, making it impossible to unify them.

That’s why Austria tightly holds onto the ‘federation’ called the Holy Roman Empire.

It’s neither holy, nor Roman, and too divided to be called an empire, but it is a strange political entity.

The Duchy of Milan, among others, holds a very unique position.

That is, the Emperor also holds the title of Duke of Milan.

Therefore, the Duchy of Milan in northern Italy is the Emperor’s direct territory.

So, strictly speaking, outstanding generals have always been appointed as commanders in the Duchy of Milan, not [Austria].

Because they have to protect the Emperor’s fief.

The same goes for Beaulieu.

He is by no means an incompetent general, having won several victories in Flanders and the Rhine.

Yet, he was defeated without even putting up a proper fight.

His aide, Colonel Klenau, picked up the report and nodded.

“It’s astonishing how easily Sardinia was taken. Could it be that General Beaulieu simply abandoned it? He held them off for five years, but the Kingdom of Sardinia collapsed in less than a month.”

“Huh? What? I can’t hear you!”

“I said Beaulieu is an idiot!”

The old general, Wurmser, who was still deaf, nodded and shouted back.

“Yes, he’s an idiot! And what on earth was King Vittorio Amadeo doing? That fellow is crazy! Or, couldn’t Michelangelo even see the layout? Just standing there and getting beaten!”

King Vittorio Amadeo of Sardinia.

General Michelangelo Colli, dispatched from Austria, commander of the Sardinian defense forces.

Even Count Argenteau, who had set out as an advance party, was defeated.

By a rookie general who was only 26 years old, Napoleon.

Just then.

Inside the command post in Stuttgart, where the Rhine Command was located, a general listening to the report shouted.

“Field Marshal, shouldn’t we petition His Imperial Majesty!”

“Why?”

“Shouldn’t we send some of the Rhine Army from Tyrol to northern Italy!”

Major General Peter von Quosdanovich, a leading figure in the Austrian Rhine Army, shouted loudly.

“If we continue like this, Milan is in danger! And even Vienna!”

Originally, there are many obstacles to going from France to Austria.

If advancing from the north, one must pass through Flanders, the Netherlands, and Prussia.

The central front must fight against the Rhine Army, currently commanded by Wurmser.

Either way, reaching Austria requires a difficult process.

One must defeat the enemy, occupy the principalities of the Holy Roman Empire, and finally break through the western part of Austria, where the Alps are located.

However, if Italy is conquered, the story changes.

Although there are the Alps, there is already a route to Austria.

In short, a direct strike on Vienna becomes possible.

Wurmser stroked his fox-like pointed chin and muttered.

“Yes, if France seizes northern Italy, that’s what will happen. It’s a threat our empire has faced for 300 years. Our ancestors defended it well, but are we going to let it fall in our time? Unacceptable.”

France has been aiming for northern Italy for 300 years.

It’s just that they failed every time, so it wasn’t a threat to the Holy Roman Empire.

But this time, the situation is a bit different.

Wurmser didn’t bother to mention it, but the French army isn’t just sending troops.

The spirit of revolution.

Liberty, equality, fraternity.

Above all, a republic without a monarch.

All of this comes with the French army.

However, for Austria, a multi-ethnic state, the absence of a monarch means the dissolution of the state.

Of course, even if that weren’t the case, it was a terrible thing for soldiers who had lived loyal to the monarch.

Just as Klenau and Quosdanovich were about to nod.

Wurmser, who had been muttering to himself, suddenly shouted.

“Mantua!”

“W-What a surprise, Field Marshal?”

“What are you talking about all of a sudden? Mantua?”

As Klenau and Quosdanovich asked in surprise, Wurmser issued an order instead of explaining.

“Bring Josef Alvinczi from the north. He’s not a friend I particularly like, but he’s perfect for siege warfare!”

“C-Commander, General Alvinczi is currently defending the northern front in Flanders.”

“There must be a valid reason. No, we need the Emperor’s permission.”

At that moment, Wurmser suddenly seemed to hear well and shouted.

“Reason? Don’t you understand? France has always been defeated by us. At least in the Italian theater! But suddenly, the situation has changed drastically. What’s the reason? Did Beaulieu suddenly become stupid?”

“Isn’t that also a reason?”

“No! It’s because the situation on the French side has changed. The regime has changed, and the commander has changed too, right?”

When people change, tactics change.

Of course, Wurmser doesn’t know the tactics led by Napoleon.

Concentrated bombardment, infantry dispersal, cavalry breakthrough.

And then annihilating the enemy by individually destroying them.

In fact, Napoleon is only now executing the tactics he had just developed through [thought experiments]; they aren’t fully realized yet.

However, even a general who only knows traditional tactics can recognize one thing.

Great generals, fierce generals, or reckless generals sometimes challenge with gambling-like tactics.

Of course, such gambles are difficult to sustain.

“We’ve been defeated by the new commander, a 26-year-old rookie. He must be young, fast, and reckless!”

Wurmser, a fox general with long battlefield experience,’s eyes gleamed.

“Do you know how to catch a reckless young general?”

“W-Well, I’m not sure?”

“Come to think of it, it seems like there’s a young general right in front of us.”

Just as Quosdanovich, feeling bewildered, was about to answer, thinking of Klenau and Moreau.

“I’m curious too.”

A young general suddenly entered the Stuttgart headquarters.

A pale face that literally looked like a noble stood out.

However, unbefitting his age, his rank was already Major General.

In the Austrian army, where there was no revolutionary situation, there was only one type of person who could achieve such rapid success.

Those who were high-ranking nobles.

Suddenly, Wurmser, who was much higher in rank in the military, bowed politely.

“Your Highness, the Archduke. What brings you here?”

“Aren’t I also running on the Rhine battlefield? I came to ask the Field Marshal something, but I ended up hearing the story.”

The brother of Emperor Franz II.

A man who held the title of Duke of Teschen and Archduke of Austria.

A young man commonly called Archduke Karl.

He was a member of the imperial family who had joined the military and participated in the war after the French Revolution began.

However, he has epilepsy, so he is not in a normal state.

Nevertheless, he is making achievements on the Rhine battlefield with his brilliant strategic mind.

Wurmser, who recognized his talent, highly values the Archduke regardless of his status.

On the other hand, the Archduke, who still considers himself just one of the high-ranking commanders, widened his eyes.

“What do you mean, Field Marshal Wurmser?”

Wurmser looked back at the map and smiled strangely.

“It seems I’ll have to go to Lombardy. If I leave it to Beaulieu, he’ll ruin everything. Your Highness, the Archduke, will have to take over as my successor.”

“That’s too great a task. Anyway, let’s ask. Do you have a plan?”

“I do.”

The Archduke’s voice was thick and majestic, easily heard even by the deaf Wurmser.

In an era without electric megaphones, a loud voice was one of the essential requirements for a commander-in-chief.
Wurmser, who regarded him as a commander-in-chief in that respect as well, smiled with satisfaction and pointed to one place on the map.

Right at the southern end of the North Italian region, Mantua.

“We’ll defend it in the fortress. The best fortress in northern Italy isn’t Milan, but here. It’s Mantua.”

He would catch Napoleon here.

That was Wurmser’s plan.

***

Although called a fool, Lombardy Commander Beaulieu also knows the basics of war.

But only from the perspective of a European aristocratic officer.

-Cheep!

Again, it was late April, just as Napoleon’s army was emerging from Turin.

Tortona, near the Po River, north of Genoa.

The temporary headquarters of the army led by Beaulieu was established.

A chef dedicated to the commander was magnificently grilling meat even in this situation.

In addition, a chef’s assistant, a batman [a soldier assigned to a commissioned officer as a personal servant], and a servant were quickly setting the table.

In the late 18th century, the military was originally an aristocratic society.

Enlisted men were naturally commoners, but officers were exclusively aristocrats.

Beaulieu is not a high-ranking aristocrat like Argenteau, but he is also a member of the military aristocracy.

But aristocrats are supposed to be attended by servants.

Even on the battlefield, it was natural for them to be accompanied by a personal chef, servants, and a batman.

Of course, Beaulieu wasn’t the only one like that.

Only the scale differed, but officers’ servants, supply merchants, and even women stayed with the army.

This was the average army of this era.

The revolutionary army, composed of commoner officers and without cumbersome servants, was a unique existence.

That’s why, despite being extremely hurried, they were still staying on the Po River.

Suddenly, Beaulieu stopped eating the meat and threw his knife.

“Why is this happening? This is absurd!”

It had been a week since he hastily began his retreat from Genoa.

If he headed north from here, Milan was just around the corner.

However, although Milan is a large city, it is not a city that is good for defense in modern warfare that emphasizes firepower.

In fact, ever since cannons appeared, siege warfare had been rapidly losing its effectiveness.

Especially in the late 18th century, it had been a long time since the war had changed to a form where cannons easily broke through fortresses.

However, there are still places that can be called fortresses.

At that time, his aide, Colonel Josef Wenzel Radetzky, who was also eating meat next to him, jumped up and shouted.

“The defeat has already happened. Commander, we must confront them right now.”

Beaulieu glared at his aide and frowned.

“How? They’ve already occupied the Kingdom of Sardinia. Now, they’re coming for us. Not Genoa, but Milan.”

“That’s why we have to fight back! Milan is not a fortress. The walls are not properly constructed. We have no choice but to fight in the field!”

“And what happens if we lose?”

Beaulieu shouted at his aide, Radetzky.

“The Lombardy army will scatter. The Duchy of Milan will also be completely exposed to them without defense. Radetzky, can you take responsibility for that situation!”

Radetzky fell silent.

In later alternate history, Radetzky grows into one of the generals representing Austria.

But he is still only 29 years old.

Napoleon is 26 years old and a commander, but in the Austrian army, which is a seniority-based aristocratic society, it is difficult to become a general at this age.

The fact that Radetzky has risen to the rank of colonel is the result of tremendous effort.

Conversely, the commander will not move at the mere words of a colonel.

Beaulieu got up from the table and stared at the map hanging on the wall of the tent.

“We can’t retreat to Tyrol. We have to protect Lombardy. But there are no proper fortresses in Lombardy.”

“There is.”

“What?”

At that moment, Radetzky spoke again.

“Isn’t there Mantua? It’s south of Lombardy and a key point for going to the center. If we defend this place, even if the enemy occupies Milan, they won’t be able to advance south.”

Mantua is a special fortress.

The walls are solid, but more importantly, it is surrounded by lakes.

To capture this place, one must cross the lake or charge through a narrow passage.

The distance is so far that cannons cannot reach it easily, making it difficult to capture.

However, conversely, if they enter Mantua, the Lombardy army will be isolated.

Thinking about that point, Beaulieu shook his head.

“That’s not enough. Wait.”

Suddenly, Beaulieu stared intently at the map and slapped his knee.

“Yes, if the enemy can read a map, they’ll know. That brat Bonaparte must have learned cartography, right? At the military academy?”

“He probably did.”

“He’ll know that Mantua is a key point. In that case!”

Knowing that it is a key point, how will the opponent react if the enemy moves?

“We can lure them!”

They will follow.

In short, if Beaulieu moves to Mantua, he can lure Napoleon.

Beaulieu, drawing on the map with chalk and devising a plan,’s eyes flashed and he ordered.

“Colonel Radetzky, convey the order to the commanders of each regiment!”

“Yes, speak!”

“Everyone prepares to move. Cross the Po River as quickly as possible. The goal is Mantua, but going to Mantua is not the real goal!”

Beaulieu’s hand drew a line between Milan and Mantua.

“We will first take position in the [Adda River] area between Milan and Mantua and intercept them. Especially!”

The Po River is the river that flows between the Kingdom of Sardinia and Milan.

Once you cross this river, Milan is just around the corner.

However, to go to Mantua, you have to cross the Adda River again.

The Adda River basin has numerous tributaries, making it difficult for the army to pass.

That is, if the bridge is destroyed.

Of course, there will be ways to build a pontoon bridge or cross by ferry.

However, the enemy will not be prepared for it, and naturally, there will be a delay in the march.

He will take advantage of this gap.

“We’ll capture the commander.”

“Yes? The commander?”

“Yes. The French army is recklessly charging right now. Their reckless blitzkrieg is the source of the problem. If we had enough supplies, we would have crushed them long ago!”

Beaulieu shouted the excellent idea he had just come up with.

“But even if we don’t have enough supplies, there is a way. We’ll crush the enemy commander’s head. In other words, a decapitation strike!”

It was a very traditional method, but Beaulieu surprisingly grasped the core.

The only factor driving the ragtag French Italian army is one thing.

Napoleon.

So, if they behead the leader, Napoleon, the Italian army will collapse.

Suddenly, Beaulieu’s gaze turned to a city on the map.

A small town on the way to Mantua, across the Adda River.

A historical place where the old Italian city-states signed peace treaties.

Beaulieu had been there once.

The river width is quite wide, and if they wait for the enemy, they can definitely block them.

Of course, on the premise that the bridge is destroyed.

“Yes, this place will be good. Lodi.”
The Lombardy army began to move to Lodi, a new battlefield in the Italian campaign.

Of course, the dishes that the chef had just prepared were left abandoned.

***

This is why 40,000 troops of the Lombardy army gathered in the small city of Lodi in early May.

-Clang! Clang! Clang!

It was like a bolt from the blue, with axes striking the bridge.

Although it was the era of black powder, axes were still the best for destroying bridges.

Until dynamite was invented in later alternate history, gunpowder was not well used in construction.

Gunpowder was unstable and too precious.

The Austrian army also imported saltpeter [potassium nitrate, a key ingredient in gunpowder], so gunpowder was always in short supply.

That’s why the Lombardy army has always mobilized engineering units whenever they destroyed the bridges over the Po and Adda rivers.

It was a situation where they were destroying the bridge over the Po River with axes after a night march.

Beaulieu, who had crossed the Lodi bridge, clicked his tongue.

“Hmph, it’s not easy. Even destroying a bridge.”

“If we destroy the bridge like this, will we be able to stop their movement?”

“No. That’s not it. It’s just a delay. The important thing is.”

Beaulieu smiled with satisfaction at his aide, Radetzky.

“We’re drawing the French army into a battlefield we control!”

Napoleon will definitely come to Milan.

He has no choice but to pass through Lodi on the march.

Even if he chases after Mantua, it’s the same.

Since the Beaulieu army has moved towards Lodi, he will have no choice but to follow.

But this place is a place where it is difficult for the army to cross the river.

Therefore, they can force the opponent to carry out a river crossing operation while facing the river.

In short, from Beaulieu’s point of view, he is drawing them to a place for a pre-prepared [lure operation].

Up to this point, it was a very reasonable thought.

Then, from somewhere, a very unreasonable gunshot was heard.

-Bang!

Suddenly, Radetzky and Beaulieu turned their heads.

“Huh? It seems like a misfire?”

“Ah, which regiment is it? Is it the Schwertz Regiment? Major General Provera! Can’t you manage your subordinates properly!”

“No, Commander! We didn’t shoot from our side. We haven’t even distributed gunpowder yet!”

Major General Johann Schwertz di Provera, who was guarding the rear, rushed over and denied it.

Beaulieu narrowed his brows.

Of course, the same was true for the Beaulieu’s direct regiment, which was destroying the bridge on the front side.

Since they hadn’t distributed the precious gunpowder, who would misfire?

“Then, who on earth?”

But gunshots began to ring out one after another from the rear.

-Bang! Bang! Bang!

Only then did Beaulieu realize the situation and shout.

“It’s the enemy!”

The Austrian army was truly taken aback and began to take combat posture.

They thought they had run with all their might and occupied Lodi first.

But an attack had begun from a completely unexpected direction, from the rear.

In short, the enemy had crossed the Adda River and occupied Lodi first.

Even the young officer, Radetzky, was shocked and shouted as he ran.

“Good heavens, the vanguard of the French army has arrived! How, this is our territory! How!”

At that very moment, there was a unit stationed in the eastern village of Lodi, Corte Palasio.

Not even a division-scale, but a scale close to a brigade level.

However, the stars shone brightly on the epaulettes of the commander’s uniform.

Suddenly, Brigadier General Serboni, the aide, asked the commander with an astonished face.

Towards the division commander, Massena.

“Division Commander. What should we do, us?”

Massena was actually wearing pajamas, not a military uniform.

The military uniform with stars was brought urgently by the aide.

Right next to him, the widow who had been enjoying a hot night with Massena until just now was trembling.

A man who had arrived like a whirlwind in the village of Palasio yesterday, occupied it, and enjoyed himself.

A general who would later be called the child loved by [Goddess of Victory] in alternate history.

Massena scratched his head and licked his lips.

“This, somehow, feels like I’ve stepped in shit?”

The moment Massena, who had only been thinking about marching, and Beaulieu, who had run to lure, met.

The Battle of Lodi, which would determine the fate of Lombardy, began in an absurd situation.