Descending On France 1780
Chapter 162 - 155 General Frost’s Expedition to Italy

Chapter 162: 155 General Frost’s Expedition to Italy

On the morning of departure, just after finishing breakfast, Anning found Vanni packing things up.

"What are you doing?" Anning asked in confusion.

"I’m setting off with the baggage train." Vanni turned to look at Anning, then said irritably, "I told you to find a batman, but you only found someone to take care of your horse, not someone to take care of you!"

Anning scratched his head: "I thought I could take care of myself."

After all, Anning had lived independently for so many years before crossing over and was confident in his ability to take care of himself.

But Vanni snorted: "Every time when I’m not there to look after you, you keep wearing the same military uniform over and over, just like Mr. Robespierre in Paris!"

Robespierre was dragged into this, which showed how deep an impression his perpetually unworn green coat had left on Vanni.

Anning: "Forget it, if you want to follow the baggage train, then follow it. I don’t mind having someone to arrange what I wear every day. I’ll head out first."

"Take care." Vanni halted her work and turned to salute Anning.

Anning straightened out his uniform and left his residence with big strides.

Just as he stepped outside, he saw Beethoven and David with their light drawing boards, riding past the headquarters.

Anning: "What are the two of you up to?"

Beethoven: "We will move with the headquarters, please allow me to document this expedition! I have a premonition that this expedition will go down in history!"

David: "I trust you wouldn’t refuse a painter’s desire to sketch from life."

Anning: "Alright, if you’re willing to follow, then just keep following. Since I can’t stop my maid from coming, of course, I can’t refuse you two either."

David: "We will record your valiant image in the most artistic manner!"

As they were talking, Bertier came out from the headquarters, saluted Anning, and then loudly reported: "The vanguard has already set off, and we aim to reach Nice within three days to set up a supply centre."

Anning nodded: "I leave it to you."

If it weren’t for Bertier, Anning wouldn’t know how to arrange various matters for the thirty thousand army.

Just the supplies of the thirty-thousand-strong army was an incredibly complex issue.

But with Bertier taken on board, such complex matters could all be tossed to this energetic chief of staff.

Lazar Kano, on the other hand, was left in France, in charge of operating the factories and commerce associations set up by Anning and also in charge of arranging supplies.

With the full cooperation of these two talented individuals, Anning could comfortably lead his troops on an expedition to Italy.

The troops would first head to Nice, then march into Italy from the coastal road.

This required a big detour, unnecessarily extending the supply distance. But it couldn’t be helped; between Anning’s base and the French-controlled region in Italy, there was the Sardinian Kingdom.

The Sardinian Kingdom had not declared war on France, so Anning had to make a detour.

In the ’Napoleon Chronicles’ of another timeline, before Napoleon’s decisive battle with the Austrian army, he first subdued the Sardinian Kingdom, then signed a treaty, obtaining military passage rights through the Sardinian Kingdom’s territory.

Then Napoleon fought Marshal Boliue on the Po River Plain, and after winning, he directly pushed towards Milan.

After occupying Milan, the prosperous city completely resolved the supply issue for the Italian Legion.

Anning could not attack the Sardinian Kingdom, so he had to engage in a decisive battle with Boliue as quickly as possible, and after driving Boliue away, occupy Milan.

Otherwise, logistics would truly pose a serious challenge.

Leaving from Nice, passing through San Remo, via Andora, and finally arriving at Savona, the supply line is way too long.

Although the roads along this route are in relatively good condition due to the area’s economic development, primarily being well-traveled coastal roads, such a long distance is still too much to bear.

And from Savona to the Po River Plain, there is also a vast stretch of coastal hills.

All of these would impact Anning’s logistical support.

To avoid his troops being dragged down by logistics, Anning must strike swiftly and seize Milan quickly!

As Anning was contemplating these matters, the officers all emerged from the headquarters, each looking brimming with confidence.

Napoleon, being most familiar with Anning, was the first to joke: "Andy, why the solemn face? This battle will be much easier than fighting Lafayette!"

Anning shook his head: "No, do not underestimate Marshal Boliue. Moreover, the Austrian army cannot be compared to Lafayette’s National Guard. Lafayette’s troops were disheartened and disloyal; on one hand, they feared my reputation, on the other, they envied the treatment my army received.

"But the Austrian army is different; at most, they have slightly heard of my name, and our reforms are of no concern to them.

"Plus, they speak German and do not share a language with us, so they are unlikely to be influenced by us like Lafayette’s troops were."

After Anning finished speaking, Lasalle added: "And they have genuine military salaries in hard currency!"

Anning nodded: "Right, they also have solid military salaries."

At that moment, Anning suddenly noticed David writing something in his sketchbook.

"What are you writing?" Anning asked curiously.

"I’m recording your admonitions to the subordinates! You never underestimate any enemy!" David said, "Truly the foremost general of France!"

Anning thought to himself that his biography was going to have another glowing story added to it—some portrayal of an impeccable hero! He could not be bothered to correct it and simply turned to the officers and said: "Alright! Mount up, let’s set out!"

By then, the officers’ aides had already brought their horses over.

Anning’s exclusive coachman, Julian, had also led Anning’s white horse over.

Choosing this youth as a coachman was because his name was Julian; after all, Anning was known as the "Magician of the battlefield," so the aide taking care of him should be called Julian.

But after some thought, Anning still feared following in the footsteps of Admiral Yang Weili, so he assigned Julian to horse breeding instead of making him a real aide.

Anning mounted his horse, gently squeezed its belly, and made the horse trot lightly.

His officers promptly followed behind him.

The group majestically exited through the monastic gate.

Beethoven and David were on horses by the roadside, the painter quickly capturing the scene in his sketchbook.

In the sketches, Anning looked spirited, with the bald Davout to his left, his expression stern and eyes fierce, exuding the aura of a fierce warrior, and the equally serious Lana to Davout’s left; while on Anning’s right side, Napoleon appeared like an excited child, with the spirited Lasalle to Napoleon’s right.

Bertier, perhaps because he was a demoted general, silently followed at the end of the troop, with a facial expression that seemed deep in thought.

As the backdrop of this sketch, the soldiers’ neatly arranged bayonets resembled a forest.

Following the officers, the high-morale troops, in tidy formation, marched to the drumbeat of the military band, singing "Hymn of Rome" in unison as they proceeded.

Having completed the sketch, David laughed: "I’ve decided, this painting will be titled ’General Frost’s Expedition to Italy’!"