I'm the Dauphin in France

Chapter 892: The Relief of Mantua
It was not until the end of the ball that the Governor of Genoa, Ebiaso, finally got the chance to speak to the Prince of France.

After he stepped forward and saluted, Joseph smiled and said:
"Your Excellency, Governor, I appreciate the strong confidence shown by the Genoa Parliament in the French franc by exchanging nearly 1 million francs with gold at the French Reserve Bank."

As a trading port in northern Italy, Genoa is indeed very rich.

"It is an honor for Genoa to serve you." Abiaso felt something was wrong as soon as he said this, and hurriedly added, "Converting francs will also make it easier for our country to trade in the common market. This is just a normal financial operation."

"Very good." Joseph nodded approvingly and continued, "Genoa is too small and its population is very limited, which greatly restricts its development.

"I think that Pisa could be incorporated into Genoa."

In this gold run, Genoa brought the most gold to support the French Reserve Bank, so it deserves a reward.

Of course, giving benefits is also to pave the way for making conditions later.

Abiaso was suddenly very excited.

Although Pisa is not very large in area, its location is quite good - on the northern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, with a fairly large port.

After the merger of Genoa and Pisa, they completely monopolized the seaports in northern Italy.

Moreover, the two places are very close, which makes them very easy to manage.

"This is really great." Abiaso bowed and said, "Thank you, Your Highness, the Crown Prince. Genoa will always follow in your footsteps!"

After Joseph handed out the candies, he began to "charge": "Genoa is the most important supply port in the northern Mediterranean, so the French Navy has always hoped to get its own anchorage here."

Abiaso seemed a little hesitant: "Your Highness, the military port on the east side of the port has not been used for nearly a hundred years, and most of the facilities have been damaged..."

Joseph knew what he was worried about and said, “Our fleet is only stationed at the port, and we will not interfere with any affairs of Genoa, nor will we interfere with the normal entry and exit of merchant ships.

"All waterways near the port of Genoa are under the full jurisdiction of the Genoa Parliament. Here, the movement of our fleet must be approved by the Parliament in advance.

“We can sign these commitments into the agreement.

"The naval port is leased to our country for use for 99 years. After the lease expires, the Genoa Parliament can decide whether to renew the lease."

In a word, this is simply to borrow the naval port of Genoa, rather than to control Genoa with the fleet.

Abiyaso was indeed relieved: "If that's the case, I think the parliament should agree to lease the military port."

Joseph continued: "What about the repair work at the naval port?"

"Please rest assured that everything will be handled by the Genoa Parliament." Abiaso said without hesitation.

It is estimated that it will cost three or four million francs to renovate the old naval port, but compared with the newly acquired pizza, this amount of money is nothing.

Joseph nodded in satisfaction. In history, after Napoleon occupied Genoa, he spent four years renovating the old naval port in order to use it. Not long after the renovation, he was defeated by the British in the Battle of Trafalgar, and the naval port was lost without much use.

Now that it has been handed over to Genoa to deal with it, France will be much more relaxed.

He looked at Abbiaso again: "In addition, I also want to invest in the Genoa Shipyard and expand it into the largest shipyard in the Western Mediterranean..."

……

1794 1 Month 25 Day.

North of the fortress of Mantua.

Trento.

Napoleon looked through the telescope at the Austrian army marching south along the Adige River and said to Victor beside him:
"Ah, the dear Austrians are finally here. What I have been most worried about in the past few months is that Wurmser will suddenly surrender due to food shortages in the fortress."

Victor also looked at the Austrian army in the distance excitedly: "It took four months. Vienna's mobilization speed is really too slow." "Let's end the battle here quickly. Now I start to feel sick whenever I see the Mantua Fortress."

Napoleon turned to look at the staff officer beside him: "Have you figured out the enemy's situation?"

"We have only completed part of the reconnaissance, General." The latter said hurriedly, "The Austrian vanguard should be around 3 men, commanded by Bartholdt.

“Alvinzi’s main force is still 7 kilometers away.

"The flank commanded by Kostanovich is passing through the Tonale Pass.

"According to the intelligence we received earlier, the total enemy strength is 8."

In order to save Mantua and rescue the two influential veterans, Wurmser and Beaulieu, Francis II really spent all his family assets.

Although the mobilization speed was a bit slow, the planned conscription task was completed in full.

However, after a series of previous disastrous defeats, there were no outstanding military officers left in Austria, so they had to appoint Alvin as the commander-in-chief.

His most glorious military achievement before this was suppressing the Hungarian uprising in the Danube area.

Napoleon nodded and said, "Let the cavalry scout as far forward as possible, so as to give Alvinzi the impression that we are going to fight a decisive battle in Trento."

"Yes, General!"

Napoleon waved his hand to Victor and said, "Then Trento is in your hands. Remember to deploy your troops as widely as possible. Acting is also a necessary skill for a commander."

"Yes, General, please rest assured."

Napoleon turned around, mounted his horse, and galloped westward towards the Salka River with his guards.

At this time on the front line of Trento, he only left Victor with 1 soldiers, and they were all troops with ordinary combat effectiveness such as the Montpellier Legion.

At this time, the "main force" surrounding Mantua was 1 people from the Sardinian Legion and 5 French recruits.

Austrian forward.

Bartholdt's Army Camp.

The Hussars brought the situation at the front back to the headquarters as quickly as possible.

In the officers' tent, Bartoltz stared at the location of Trento on the map and said to the officers beside him:
"With Trento as the center, traces of the French were found in an area 1.5 miles wide on both sides of the east and west."

He was talking about Ori, 1.5 li is equivalent to about 10 kilometers.

He continued: "I have carefully read the reports of Marshal Beaulieu and General Melas. Napoleon is very good at sneak attacks and ambushes.

"So when we see one French soldier, we have to think that there are probably 10 Frenchmen nearby."

A colonel next to him frowned and said:

"General, I think the French are likely planning to have a decisive battle on the Trento line."

Bartholdt nodded: “If that is the case, I must admit that Napoleon’s plan is terrible.

“We always believed that the main force of the enemy was near Mantua, and the Trento Line was only to delay the speed of our reinforcements.

"If our army rashly launches an attack on Trento, it will soon be outflanked by the main force of the French army nearby."

(End of this chapter)