Chapter 16: Divergent Thoughts

Within the borders of Italy, in the northern stronghold: Milan!

Once a significant city-state in northern Italy, Milan had now transformed into the headquarters of the Anti-French coalition due to the ongoing war.

On this particular day, Milan was bustling with activity, as all the senior officers of the Anti-French coalition had gathered together. However, despite the lively atmosphere, the expressions on their faces were grim, still reeling from the recent defeat in Turin, which forced them to retreat to Milan.

"General, all personnel have assembled," reported a military officer in full uniform to the supreme commander of the Anti-French coalition, Grand Duke Charles, within a luxurious palace.

"In that case, let the meeting begin," Charles replied, turning slowly to address the gathered high-ranking officers.

Among them were the King of Sardinia, Emmanuel IV, the Commander of the Spanish Army, Odon, the Commander of the British Mediterranean Fleet, Peiget, and the Commander of the Italian Army, Eugene, among others. These individuals represented the elite of their respective countries. If anyone among them were to bring down this palace, it would send shockwaves throughout Europe.

Today, they stood here not only representing themselves but also their nations, each one a major power in the world. Charles couldn't help but sigh at the weight of responsibility. The Holy Roman Empire had exerted great effort to convene these nations, forming this alliance. Yet, they were now forced to retreat to Milan.

Charles knew all too well that the Holy Roman Empire had exhausted its resources for this alliance. If they failed to decisively defeat France, not only would the Empire face internal crisis, but it would also become a laughingstock in Europe.

"No, I must find a way to turn the tide of this situation. At the very least, we must capture Turin to justify our actions to His Majesty," Charles muttered to himself.

Then, he extended his hand, lightly tapping the table to draw everyone's attention before speaking: "Gentlemen, I have convened this gathering today to discuss an urgent matter."

"What is it, Your Grace?" asked General Eugene, the Italian commander, upon hearing Charles's words.

"As you all know, this alliance comprises seven nations with nearly 300,000 troops. Yet, here we are, forced to retreat to Milan. It would be a disgrace if word got out. Therefore, I've decided to rally our soldiers once more and launch an attack on Turin. This time, we must defeat Napoleon and take Turin," Charles declared, scanning the faces of those present.

"I hope that each of your countries can contribute troops to this battle. Each faction must send at least 30,000 soldiers," he continued, seeking their opinions.

As Charles's words fell, silence enveloped the room. Not a single person dared to respond to his proposal. Those appointed to command their respective forces were not fools; they understood the implications all too well.

To speak up would mean committing their nations to join Charles in attacking the French. Given the ferocity of the French onslaught, such a commitment would undoubtedly result in casualties for their own armies—a prospect no one wished to entertain.

After half a day passed without a response from anyone, Charles turned his attention to the Duke of Peiget, the commander of the British Mediterranean Fleet.

"The strength of the British forces in the alliance is second only to that of the Holy Roman Empire. Duke Peiget, what are your thoughts on my proposal?" Charles directed his inquiry toward the British commander.

With still no response from anyone, Charles resorted to targeting individuals. And the first he addressed was the Duke of Peiget, representing the British forces. Perhaps driven by a desire to avenge the humiliating defeat in the Battle of Marseilles, Britain had committed a substantial number of troops to this alliance.

Knowing that the British forces were second only to the Holy Roman Empire in terms of strength within the alliance, Charles hoped that if the British agreed, it would set a precedent for the other nations to follow.

Upon hearing Charles's inquiry, the Duke of Peiget's expression darkened immediately. He knew all too well that Charles was setting a trap for him.

"Duke Charles, your words are not entirely accurate. While it's true that Britain has dispatched a considerable number of troops for this campaign, most of them are naval forces, not ground troops. If you require our navy to engage the French fleet, I'll readily comply. However, when it comes to participating in the Battle of Turin, I'm afraid I must beg off. After all, we can't exactly sail our warships onto land, can we?"

However, Peiget was no ordinary man. He quickly devised a strategy: citing the insufficiency of the British army on land. While some of his words served as excuses, it was true that Britain had always been a naval power rather than a land power. Their strength lay primarily in their navy, with their army being considered secondary.

By using the excuse of the inadequacy of the British army on land, Peiget managed to avoid damaging Charles's reputation while also preventing accusations of British cowardice.

"Well..." Charles was momentarily at a loss for words upon hearing Peiget's rationale. Peiget's argument was sound and irrefutable.

However, Britain was undeniably an important ally. Without their assistance, capturing Turin would indeed be a daunting task.

Frustrated by his unsuccessful attempt to persuade the British, Charles's expression darkened further.

"Why not inquire Marshal Suvarov instead, Your Grace? The Russian contingent in the coalition has also deployed a considerable force, not to mention the formidable Cossack cavalry. With their assistance, defeating the French would be far from difficult," Peiget suggested, redirecting Charles's attention to Marshal Suvarov, the Russian commander, and thereby shifting the burden away from himself.

"Russians?" Peiget's words illuminated a path for Charles and cleared his mind. Of course! How could he have forgotten about the Russians?

Unlike the British, Russia was a bona fide land power, boasting a formidable army. Their Cossack cavalry was renowned worldwide. If Charles could persuade the Russians to take the vanguard, the losses incurred by his own troops would undoubtedly be minimized.