I'm the Dauphin in France

Chapter 893: Risk-taking and steady progress

Bartoltz quickly reached a consensus with the officers and ordered the front army to stop advancing and assemble 5 kilometers north of Trento, ready to respond to the French surprise attack at any time.

Bartoltz then wrote a letter to the Austrian commander-in-chief Alvinzi, explaining the deployment of the French army near Trento.

The next afternoon.

Claystown.

At the front of the Austrian army's marching column, Alvin handed the report sent by the front army to Marshal Leo, who was known as the "Lance of the Southern Netherlands", and said solemnly:

"Bartoltz believes that the French are going to fight a decisive battle north of Mantua. Based on your rich combat experience, is this possible?"

Leo immediately pretended to be thinking seriously, but his mind was blank.

He got the title of marshal completely by luck, where did he get such rich experience?

If His Majesty the Emperor had not personally visited him twice to ask him to come out of retirement, he would have been absolutely unwilling to go to the front line again.

And they were fighting against the French army.

He knew the French fighting power best, and most of his military achievements were gained by following Lefebvre.

So he gave his most sincere advice: "I think we should never fight the French army without being fully prepared."

He added in his mind: Even if you are well prepared, it will probably be difficult to win...

Alvin Qi nodded solemnly upon hearing this: “You and I have exactly the same idea.

"General Wilms was eager to achieve success and divided his troops into three groups and marched south. However, Napoleon seized the opportunity and concentrated his superior forces to defeat his right wing.

"Although I don't know what trap Napoleon has set in Trento, the fact that my army has a numerical advantage has not changed.

"So as long as we keep our forces concentrated and advance steadily, no ambush or sneak attack will be effective!"

"That's true." Leo nodded immediately in agreement, "Well, I defeated the Prussians in Silesia by taking steady steps."

The two discussed for a while, and Alvin said to the herald:
"Order the Kostanovich Corps to abandon its assigned mission and rush to Kles to join me.

"Order General Bajahaza to move westward, keeping the distance between him and the main force no more than half a day, and advance towards Trento simultaneously."

"Yes, Marshal."

As soon as the messenger turned around, Alvin stopped him again: "By the way, you must tell them not to relax their reconnaissance just to maintain the marching speed. I can accept that they arrive a few days later, but they must not be ambushed by the enemy!"

His order was quickly conveyed to the corps on the left and right wings, and the two troops immediately moved closer to him. At the same time, the main force of the Austrian army in the center also slowed down its march to ensure that the formation was neat and the troops were concentrated.

However, Alvinzi focused all his energy on guarding against Napoleon's sneak attack, but did not notice that as the left and right wings shrank, the area that the Austrian army could control was rapidly shrinking.

Originally, the right wing could provide early warning to the foot of Monte Care to Monte Castello, while the left wing extended to the vicinity of the Cordevole River.

After the troops were reduced, huge gaps appeared on both wings.

Napoleon's main force was not at Trento at all - there were only 1 soldiers there.

At this time, he was leading the Royal 40rd Infantry Division, the Lyon Corps and other main corps, totaling more than 50 people, to Mount Castello, more than kilometers west of Trento, and then quickly heading north from here. In the town of Feltre, kilometers east of Trento, the Augereau Corps and the Marmont Corps, totaling people, who had been waiting for a long time, were also heading north along the Cordevole River.

They will pass through both sides of the main Austrian force at the same time, then surround the middle, forming a three-way trap for Alvinzi.

Logically speaking, Napoleon and Augereau had to march forty to fifty kilometers to the east and west respectively. During this period, if Alvinzi launched a fierce attack on Trento, the French troops there would not be able to hold out until the encirclement was completed.

But Napoleon told Victor with certainty that he would be faster than Alvinchi.

The actual battle situation was developing in the direction he expected - to be on the safe side, Alvinzi had been waiting near Kles for the two wings to move closer.

In addition, the Austrian troops on both wings marched very slowly in order to avoid ambushes.

When Napoleon arrived at the eastern foot of Mount Castello, Kostanovich on the Austrian right wing had not yet reached Kleis.

At the same time, in the Mantua Fortress, Wurmser also received news that reinforcements were coming - the messengers certainly could not get in, but they could set off fireworks of different colors at night in a predetermined manner, and the fortress would know that reinforcements were coming.

A violent quarrel ensued between Wurmser and Beaulieu.

"We have no idea where the reinforcements are," Beaulieu slapped the map vigorously. "Maybe they just arrived in Venice."

Wilmser interrupted him coldly: "Last time, it was because you didn't take the initiative to break out that you missed the opportunity to attack the French with me!"

Beaulieu smiled disdainfully: "If I had left the fortress hastily at that time, this place would have belonged to the French."

"Then you will continue to stay here." Wurmser is the commander-in-chief of Mantua and has the final decision-making power. "General Argentau and I will go to meet the reinforcements."

Beaulieu was stunned for a moment and asked, "How many people do you plan to take with you?"

"1. You will lead 7 men to defend the fortress."

"No, that's too risky..."

"You know exactly how much food is left here," Wurmser shouted. "I've been eating black bread since three days ago!"

Yes, the food in the Mantua Fortress was only enough to last less than half a month. The lower-level soldiers had to catch mice every day to supplement their rations.

Beaulieu suddenly sighed, fell into a chair, waved his hand and said: “I understand, just leave me 2,000 people.

"Perhaps, this should have ended long ago..."

"Thank you for not losing your courage." Wurmser raised his hat and turned away.

Beaulieu looked at his back, made the sign of the cross on his chest, and murmured, "I hope His Majesty the Emperor can forgive me..."

As soon as the French army in Trento discovered the Austrian reinforcements, the news was sent to Genoa by a team of rangers, and then transmitted to Paris through the Chap signal tower there.

After the signing of the Mediterranean Security Organization agreement, all member states have begun to build signal towers. However, Genoa was the first to connect the signal towers in the country with those in Paris because it is closer to France and is willing to spend money.

According to the current construction progress, in half a year at most, all major cities in northern Italy will be able to enjoy the "optical telegraph" service.

(End of this chapter)