Chapter 86: The Prelude to Wa

One could say that the issues faced by the Austro-Hungarian army during World War I are now present in the Holy Roman Empire. This country, although powerful, is indeed a colossus with feet of clay, not to be feared.

In contrast, the French army is at its strongest. Although Napoleon lost a group of elite troops due to British interference during the Egyptian expedition, after nearly a year of rest and recuperation, the French army has regained its fighting spirit. Additionally, the French army's firepower, especially infantry support firepower, far surpasses that of the Austrian army. Therefore, once the two armies clash, the French army will not find it very difficult to achieve victory.

"According to the General Staff's plan, this operation will be divided into northern and southern fronts. The northern front will primarily focus on Milan and Venice. The goal of the northern front is to reclaim northern Italy and attack Venice, uprooting Austrian influence in northern Italy completely."

"As for the entire Italian peninsula, it will be the southern front. The goal of the southern front is to completely eliminate anti-French forces on the Italian peninsula, laying a solid foundation for our future rule over this area," Napoleon commanded, pointing to the large map.

The northern front will be the main battlefield of this campaign, with most of Napoleon's cavalry and heavy artillery being deployed there. However, the mountainous terrain is not conducive to the movement of large troops and the transportation of supplies. This will adversely affect the outcome of the battle, but the mountains are an obstacle for the Austrians as well. Their logistical capabilities are likely inferior to those of the French, so the mountains will pose an even greater challenge for them.

The Austrians are evidently aware of this, which is why they have built strong fortifications in Thonau to defend against the French.

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The northern front has rugged roads, but the southern front is different. The Italian peninsula is mostly plains and is surrounded by the sea on three sides, making it easy to defend and hard to attack. The Austrians are likely to make this their primary target for an offensive. The troops they are most likely to deploy are the Hungarian hussars. Rumor has it that they are descendants of Attila, the Scourge of God, with formidable combat skills.

But Napoleon believed that no matter how sharp the Hungarian hussars' sabres were, they could not stand against Murat's cavalry. Murat's Central Cavalry Division was one of the most elite units in France.

Let this war determine whether the French cavalry or the Hungarian cavalry is stronger!

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"All right, you now have a basic understanding of the situation. Next, I will assign the combat tasks for each division. But before that, I need to know the deployment of the Austrian forces," Napoleon inquired.

"According to our intelligence, the Holy Roman Empire has assembled a total of 200,000 troops."

"Just as you said, General Napoleon, their main forces are concentrated in two northern Italian towns, Milan and Thonau. Here, the Austrians have gathered an army of 150,000, led by Archduke Charles. Additionally, the renowned Austrian general Radetzky will serve as the chief of staff for this campaign."

(Archduke Charles, originally named Charles Ludwig John of Lorraine, was the third son of Holy Roman Emperor Franz II. Born in 1771, he joined the military in 1790 and was active on European battlefields during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He was known as a prominent anti-French general who first defeated Napoleon.)

"Radetzky! I didn't expect Franz to send him here," Napoleon remarked, his expression becoming more serious at the mention of Radetzky.

Radetzky, whose full name was Johann Josef Wenzel Radetzky von Radetz, was an experienced general who joined the army in 1784. He participated in the Austro-Turkish War and the Second Coalition War against France, accumulating extensive combat experience that even Napoleon respected.

The famous large-scale encirclement tactics used in military history were invented by him. Historically, he, along with Governor Josip Jelačić and Prince Windisch-Grätz, was considered one of the three saviors of the Austrian Empire.

Both Archduke Charles and Radetzky were formidable opponents. Their deployment indicated Austria's determination in this battle.

However, Napoleon did not shrink from the challenge. He was born to face challenges and was confident that he could defeat both of them, thus gaining another vast territory for France.

"And what about the southern front?" Napoleon continued to ask.

"The southern front is commanded by Morfelt. His forces consist of three infantry divisions and a cavalry unit of about 20,000 men," Marmont reported to Napoleon in detail.

Upon hearing Marmont's report, Napoleon fell into deep thought, contemplating his combat strategy.

After a long period of contemplation, Napoleon finally gave the order.

"This time, I will personally command the northern front. Lannes' First Infantry Division and Moreau's Second Infantry Division will join me in battle. At the same time, Davout's Northern Cavalry Division will serve as a reserve, ready to be deployed at any moment."

"As for the southern front, Murat will temporarily assume the role of commander. Murat's Central Cavalry Division will be the main force in the southern front."

...

On June 15, 1800, with the issuance of the combat orders, all units of the French army fell into a tense state of readiness.

Once the southern and northern fronts were established, the entire French army immediately mobilized around these two battlefields. All units began to converge on their designated targets, and a large amount of war materials were transported to the front lines via road and water.

It can be said that the whole of France was now revolving around the imminent war. All sectors of French society had shifted their focus to this war.

This war was one that the French army could not lose, and dare not lose. If the French army won, the entire country would soar. They would gain the entire territory of Italy, nearly doubling their land. Within Italy, they would reap immense benefits; whether it be factories or agricultural lands, these would propel France's economy forward.

However, if the French army lost this war, they would forever lose this land, and the Austrians would deeply entrench their claws here. The entire southern part of France would also face the threat of Austrian invasion.

This war was a high-stakes gamble, with only two outcomes: a great victory or a great defeat. Therefore, France could only win and could not afford to lose.

To support the war, the French government mobilized the populace in all provinces to form support teams, transporting weapons, ammunition, and food to the front lines. The French government also declared a state of wartime, prioritizing the supply of all food and materials to the military.

In order to protect their own way of life, the French people spared no effort. Over one million people across France participated in this movement, five times the number of soldiers in the army. They used carts and wagons to transport supplies, effectively ensuring the front line's consumption.

Especially active were the French merchants operating within Italy. They eagerly donated supplies to the French army, and some even chose to serve as guides, leading the troops.

Under such intense preparations, the French army's units quickly assembled.

And with the completion of the French army's assembly, it signaled that the war was about to begin.

"How much more time do the various units need for their pre-war preparations?" Napoleon asked. This was the third time he had asked this question today.

Currently, the subordinate units of the Northern Army were advancing towards their designated areas. However, it would still take some time for all units to reach their predetermined positions.

"Reporting to Consul Napoleon, the units on the northern front are expected to all arrive within four days. The involvement of local Italian merchants has greatly assisted us in transporting troops and combat materials. As for the southern front units, their speed is much slower, and it will take at least half a month for them to reach their designated battlefield," said Minister of War Marmont.

"Have them all speed up. If the Austrians complete their assembly before us, we will be at a disadvantage."