Descending On France 1780
Chapter 192 - 185 Thorny

Chapter 192: 185 Thorny

After settling Balas in the most luxurious hotel in Milan, Anning and his officers gathered in Anning’s study to discuss the latest domestic intelligence brought by Balas.

Napoleon spoke first, "It looks like the situation at home is more complicated than we thought! Why don’t we give up on Italy and head back to Paris, like Cromwell did?"

Just as Anning was about to answer, Lazar Kano asked, "So, when the domestic situation is unstable, do we side with the Royalists or the republicans?"

Everyone looked at Lazar Kano.

In fact, Anning had casually talked about his future plans and his stance while chatting with his officers, so those who had been campaigning with him knew his inclinations.

Especially Napoleon, Anning has always shown himself to be a staunch Republican since the Briena era.

But Lazar Kano had been mainly engaged in construction in the rear, so he only had correspondence with Anning, and these letters were mostly about official matters without any political opinions, so it was normal for him not to be clear about Anning’s inclinations.

Anning: "Of course, republican. I’m a leatherworker, the Royalists wouldn’t necessarily accept me."

The officers all burst out laughing.

Lazar Kano said, quite surprised, "But the current King, Louis XVII, is the son of your benefactor, right? I heard that you might even become the king’s uncle. The Royalists gathered in Nice and Toulon seem to think so, and in their discussions, they also considered our army as staunch Royalists..."

Anning: "That’s their misconception. I indeed have a good personal relationship with the Duke, but it doesn’t involve principles. I firmly believe in equality for all and want to establish a civilian society, which naturally conflicts with the Royalists."

As Anning said this, he suddenly had a thought: Damn, what if these people forcibly try to make me ascend to the throne in the future?

Probably not... Let’s emphasize this now, to eliminate such a possibility.

Lasalle: "I propose a toast to the republic!"

Anning: "You just want an excuse to drink."

Lasalle: "Wine, women, and killing enemies on the battlefield, aren’t these the three things a man should crave?"

Napoleon laughed: "That’s all you aspire to."

"Yeah, unlike you, your dream must be to fire a cannon right in the face of the enemy’s general," Lasalle retorted.

Napoleon: "If I could, I definitely would! Just don’t let your cavalry lag behind my cannons then!"

"Oh look, look, who’s talking big now!"

Though Napoleon and Lasalle were ribbing each other, they both had smiles on their faces.

Anning glanced at Napoleon and Lasalle, unaware until now that their relationship had reached a level where they could tease each other.

It seems that after several battles, the officers under his command had also built a deep friendship with each other, perhaps there will be no more instances of friends in trouble being left unmoved... right?

While Napoleon and Lasalle were bantering, Lazar Kano was still worried about the domestic situation.

"Since we are supporting the republic, the situation back home might be a bit bad, because there really are many Royalists in the south. It might be bad... we have to prepare for the possibility of more than two hundred thousand Royalist uprisings after the Parliament and Royalists split."

Anning frowned, "Are there that many?"

"This is just a conservative estimate."

Anning pouted.

Thinking about it, even in places like Paris, a stronghold of the revolutionary faction, the Royalists started massive uprisings. In the end, it was still Napoleon who suppressed them using grape shot cannons in the streets.

Lazar Kano stroked his beard, muttering to himself in contemplation, "I need to quickly transfer those in the troops inclined towards the Royalists to Italy, and then ensure there are enough republican armies stationed in the south, ready to suppress the Royalists at any time."

Napoleon: "Don’t worry, just bring out the cannons to the streets, load them with grape shot, and strike fiercely. Whether it’s the Royalists or the old Nobles, they will quickly crumble."

Lasalle jokingly said: "Come on, as if grape shot could solve every problem."

Davout: "In fact, even without cannons, this mere rabble can be dealt with using bayonets and tight formations. I am willing to lead three thousand troops back to suppress the rebellion..."

Anning: "No, you can’t leave, none of the generals at the front can leave. We still have to contend with Austria and the Sardinian Kingdom."

Lazar Kano: "General, please focus on confronting the enemy in Italy, and I will handle the domestic affairs."

Anning: "Then I’ll leave it to you. If there is really a lack of forces, you can recruit from the farmers who have received land. Tell them this is to protect everything they have already gained."

Lazar Kano nodded.

Davout: "Let’s discuss how to defeat Austria and the Sardinian Kingdom. Based on our cavalry’s reconnaissance, and information from Italian traders, the forces at Mantua Fortress have greatly increased. North of the fortress, towards Trent and Bassano, there are clear signs of troop reinforcements. The Austrian army is expanding its warehouses and storehouses, obviously preparing to supply a much larger army."

Davout pointed on the map while speaking.

Anning looked at the map: "So, the Austrian army might attack from the directions of Adige River and Brenta River?"

Davout: "In terms of supply, the Adige River Valley direction from Trent is closer to the supply center of the Holy Roman Empire, while Bassano clearly requires a long detour."

Anning: "The Adige River Valley, huh..."

Anning remembered this valley; in real history, Napoleon had crushed the main force of Austria at a place called Rivoli in this valley.

Even though Austria had later gained a breakthrough southeast of Verona and crossed the French defensive lines, it was ultimately the French forces surrounding Mantua Fortress that halted them.

Eventually, the fortress surrendered, and the Holy Roman Army completely retreated to the Alpine Mountains line, delivering the fertile, broad, and rich land at the foothills to Napoleon.

In real history, Napoleon twice crushed the Austrian army north of Mantua Fortress, effectively securing all of Northern Italy, except Venice.

Then Napoleon even managed to subdue the Papal State, persuading the Pope to generously contribute once.

Now Anning was about to face the armies of the Holy Roman Empire and the Sardinian Kingdom on this land.

The good news was, Anning was very familiar with Napoleon’s few victories north of Mantue, and had a good grasp of the terrain.

The bad news was, Anning didn’t have the benefit of first defeating Austria before taking on the Sardinian Kingdom and then focusing all efforts on Austria like Napoleon did.

He had to face Austria and the Sardinian Kingdom simultaneously.