Chapter 85: The Colossus with Feet of Clay

"Enough, Murat, Consul Sieyès. We are here today to discuss matters, not to argue. We need to approach this situation rationally. If arguing could solve the problem, I'd be happy to let you argue all day," Napoleon intervened, stepping between the two as a peacemaker.

"Yes, both of you, please calm down. The most important thing now is how to deal with the Austrian offensive, not to argue," others chimed in, urging them to focus.

"Both Sieyès and Murat have valid points. Therefore, we should adopt a dual approach. On one hand, we send diplomats to negotiate with the Austrians. On the other hand, we dispatch troops to Genoa. This way, we have a double assurance," Napoleon finally proposed, considering both Sieyès' and Murat's opinions.

"Indeed, this seems to be the best course of action right now."

Napoleon's proposal quickly gained unanimous approval from everyone present.

Shortly after the meeting concluded, Napoleon wrote a letter to the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, stating: "Upon my return to Europe, I was deeply regretful to see that France and your country are once again at war. The call of the people compels me to shoulder the burden of defending our nation's honor. However, as leaders, we must consider the will of our people. Therefore, I propose that we engage in amicable discussions to reasonably divide the Italian territories between us."

The tone of Napoleon's letter was extremely arrogant. He placed himself on equal footing with Franz, assuming the mantle of France's emperor.

Naturally, Napoleon's arrogance incited the displeasure of the Holy Roman Emperor.

"When did a usurper become so brazen?" Franz II remarked to his ministers.

Franz's attitude did not deter Napoleon's plans. Moments after sending the letter, he led his troops out. For safety reasons, Napoleon began organizing his personal guard, requiring each member to have participated in at least four battles. He then assigned Moreau to oversee operations along the Rhine.

Napoleon himself meticulously prepared for the Italian campaign. He knew that after the devastating defeats of previous years, the Austrians had become more cunning. He couldn't employ the same tactics from four years ago; he had to find a new approach. Thus, Napoleon deliberately formed untrained recruits into reserve units, parading them under the noses of Austrian spies.

And Franz immediately fell for the trick. When he saw Napoleon's "weak and exhausted" army, his confidence soared. He believed that after the long wars, the French forces had been depleted of their elite soldiers, and now was the perfect time to defeat them.

What Franz didn't know was that Napoleon, upon seeing the satirical articles in the Viennese newspapers, also wore a cunning smile. In terms of strategy, Franz was far behind Napoleon.

…

Meanwhile, Napoleon had assembled another elite force of over 30,000 men, prepared to achieve a stunning feat. Just as Hannibal had once made the mountains bow, today, a commander would make cannons cross the passes. He ordered massive sleds to be built from tree trunks, placing the cannons on them to slide down the mountains.

The layered mountains of northern Italy would no longer obstruct Napoleon's path. He could march quickly through the harsh terrain.

In the first spring after the coup, the French army mysteriously appeared near the Great St. Bernard Pass. The local villagers were so startled that they thought divine soldiers had descended.

The soldiers realized this battle was extraordinary, each fighting with valor and urgency, making the cannons move swiftly. They trusted their commander, who had been through countless battles and won every time.

The power of example is immense. Encouraged by Napoleon, the French soldiers quickened their pace. Soon, they would return to the Lombardy region from four years ago.

However, the Austrian military was completely unaware of this. The Austrian commander wrote to his girlfriend in Pavia, saying that "all is well."

But just twelve hours later, Napoleon had already led his troops into Pavia.

…

In June 1800, Napoleon held a military conference on the war against Austria at the headquarters in Pavia. In addition to the staff and commanders of various divisions, the leader of the Italian Liberation Army, Balabio, also attended the meeting.

This war would be a full-scale conflict between Napoleon's French government and the Holy Roman Empire. To win this battle, the French government would spare no effort. Not only did the French army need to be fully prepared, but the French government also had to give its all.

In the war room, Napoleon stood at the forefront, turning to look at his generals before solemnly speaking.

"Gentlemen, this is the letter our diplomats have just delivered. In it, Emperor Franz II of the Holy Roman Empire has rejected our peace proposal."

---

"Our war with the Austrians is now inevitable. I trust no one here harbors any illusions. We must put all our efforts into this war and strive for ultimate victory. Therefore, I hope everyone will unite and fight to win this battle!"

"Yes, Consul Napoleon!" the generals shouted in unison.

In the fiery eyes of his generals, Napoleon saw their longing for glory. In the last Egyptian campaign, only a few had been promoted to major general, leaving many brigade commanders eager for their chance. Now, with the French army about to engage Austria in a larger-scale conflict, these generals saw an opportunity to earn greater merit and secure their promotions. 

No one wanted to remain a brigade commander forever, and the rank of major general was not the end of their military careers. They aspired to become lieutenant generals, generals, or even marshals of the empire.

"Consul, the Austrian army, apart from their numbers, has nothing else to fear. We have superior firepower, rendering their numerical advantage irrelevant," said General Lannes, commander of the 1st Infantry Division.

"But I've heard their Hungarian hussars are formidable. They are said to be descendants of the Huns, with excellent horsemanship, rivaling the Russian Cossacks!" one French general expressed his concern.

"Hmph! I beg to differ. While the Hungarians may be tall and strong, their combat effectiveness is weak, especially their fighting spirit, which is far inferior to ours. I had a brief encounter with them in Turin, and their combat power was mediocre," scoffed Murat, commander of the Central Cavalry Division. As a cavalry general, he naturally looked down on enemy cavalry units.

"It is said that reputation is not without merit. We should still be cautious when facing the Hungarians," said Davout, displaying more caution compared to Murat.

Napoleon nodded in agreement with Davout. In terms of fighting spirit, the Austrian army could not compare to the French. The Battle of Turin had demonstrated this well.

In wars, the French soldiers were fearless, fighting to the death even when faced with certain doom. Conversely, the Austrian army consisted mostly of lower-class individuals with little military training before joining. When faced with difficulties, they quickly crumbled. 

Moreover, the Austrian forces were diverse, sometimes with soldiers speaking over a dozen different languages in a single unit, greatly complicating command. The problems faced by the Austro-Hungarian army during World War I were already present in the Holy Roman Empire's army. 

This country, though powerful, was indeed a colossus with feet of clay, not to be feared.