I'm the Dauphin in France

Chapter 783: Sandbag's Self-cultivation

Dimobin waited for the Genoese envoy to finish his fart, then he gestured behind him and continued:
"You should know that the Austrians can cut off our retreat at any time. I took a great risk by going to Genoa this time."

He sighed solemnly: "Perhaps, I will be surrounded and unable to return to France."

Vanoni was stunned for a moment, and put his hands on his chest, pretending to be affectionate:
"There is no general in the world more heroic than you. Thank you for everything you have done for Genoa!"

If someone told him that in history Napoleon did drive out the Austrian army that occupied Genoa, but he never left here until he was defeated... and he also emptied the Genoa treasury by borrowing money.

I wonder what this messenger would think.

Of course, Joseph had no intention of occupying Genoa.

On the contrary, it was in France's best interest to ensure Genoa's independence.

This is an important handle for controlling trade in northern Italy. Only by protecting the regime here as much as possible can we prevent Sardinia from unifying the entire Italian peninsula.

From a geopolitical perspective, the existence of a bunch of small countries around France is far more beneficial than the emergence of a unified big country.

Not to mention the economy. Small countries have limited industrial capacity and can only open their markets to large countries, otherwise they will not be able to meet the daily material needs of their people.

Especially at the moment when the Italian people began to awaken, it was not easy to rule Genoa. After destroying the Genoese government, it would help Sardinia remove the obstacles to unification here.

Dimobin nodded and got to the point:
"You see, I was originally planning to retreat back to France, so I didn't prepare any logistical supplies. Once the fighting starts, I'm afraid..."

Vanoni was very sensible and immediately patted his chest and said:
"Please rest assured that our country will do its utmost to ensure your logistical supply."

"That's great." Dimopin looked towards the port, "Let's work together to defend Genoa!"

……

On the banks of the Po River across northern Italy, in the city of Alessandria, Melas was playing chess with Beaulieu while sipping coffee.

The latter's army had just suffered a major defeat and needed a good rest, so he could not do anything in the near future and could only stay in Milan, and he also became idle.

"General Argentau was very efficient. He took full control of Genoa in less than two days." Melas placed his "rook" on the other side's baseline. "What do you think the French will do next?"

Beaulieu held up the "horse" to block the side of the "king" and thought:
"From Dimopin's previous command, his response was very quick and his army deployment was also very fast. If General Chervoni had been delayed for even a moment, he would have most likely escaped back to Toulon."

Until this point, Beaulieu still believed that the Battle of Toulon was commanded by Dumaubin.

There was no way, Napoleon was still too young and not yet famous. Beaulieu could never have imagined that he was defeated by a lieutenant colonel in his twenties.

Melas still respected the old marshal in front of him and nodded, saying, "You are right. So, I want the Argentau Corps to take the initiative to attack the French to delay their retreat."

"In that case, you will need to send more troops to the Argentau Legion."

"Yes, I plan to transfer the Milan garrison to him. The defense of Milan will be left to you."

Beaulieu smiled and picked up the "elephant": "Thank you, it seems I can rest for a while."

In his opinion, the main force of the French army was concentrated in the south of Sardinia, and between Milan and Turin and Alessandria, it was completely in the rear area. While the two were talking, an officer walked quickly into the courtyard, stood at attention and said to Melas:
"Commander, I just received news from General Argentau that the French army is approaching Genoa."

Melas paused as he gripped the chess piece, and looked at Beaulieu in surprise:

"Have the French gone mad? How dare they not withdraw from Italy and continue eastward?"

"It must be that the previous victory made Dimopin lose his mind!" Beaulieu showed a happy expression, "In this way, you will have enough time to mobilize superior forces to surround him in the Genoa area. Victory has never been so close to us!"

When Melas heard him mention "victory," he could not help but think of the official sent by His Majesty the Emperor last week to convey the commendation for the "Battle of Toulon."

Poor Count Herinsetzer did not learn until two hours before arriving in Milan that the Austrian army had suffered a crushing defeat in Toulon. He was so embarrassed that he could not move forward or backward, and finally had to claim that he had lost the edict and fled back to Vienna in a panic overnight.

Melas dispelled the messy thoughts in his mind and quickly walked to the map, his eyes full of the look of a beast seeing its prey:
"The Cervoni Corps will continue to move south and divide its forces to control the Catibona Pass... The Colli Corps will head to Novi Ligure and cooperate with the Argentau Corps to encircle Dimobin..."

Viligure was a small town north of Genoa, but it controlled the passage from Genoa to Alessandria in the north.

Once Melas' order was passed on, more than 5 Osa coalition troops gathered in the Genoa area and fiercely cut off all chances of survival for Dimobin.

But he did not notice that the troops in the entire Lombardy region had been reduced to almost nothing after he had mobilized them.

……

Voltri town on the northern Italian coast.

Outside the temporary command post of the French Italian Front.

"Commander, I still think that we should use our main forces to ensure the smooth passage of the Catibona Pass." Jubel looked at the army preparing to launch a general attack on the port and made a final effort, "The reinforcements from Paris can arrive here through the pass.

"Then it will be the best time to have a decisive battle with the Austrians. Attacking Genoa at this time... will only cause us to lose all our logistical channels."

"There won't be any reinforcements," Dimobin said, motioning to the herald, "Let's launch a general attack."

Then, he looked at Jubel and said, "The first batch of reinforcements has joined Colonel Buwanaba's legion."

"Ah? But where is his army now?"

“I don’t know either.” Dimopin put his cane under his armpit and picked up the telescope to look at Genoa, “This is an order directly issued by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.

"But according to my guess, we are playing the role of 'punching bags' here, and Colonel Buwanaba is the 'right hook'."

He is indeed a veteran ranked at the forefront of the old French army. Regardless of his command ability, he still has some strategic vision.

"And the opportunity is very good right now." Dimopin handed the telescope to Jubel. "The Austrians are obviously not fully prepared for our active attack. We should be able to capture Genoa soon."

A similar situation occurred the day before yesterday when the French army raided the town of Voltry.

The Austrian troops gathered on the side of the road, as if they were about to start a march, but the French army captured this place in just three hours.

(End of this chapter)