Descending On France 1780
Chapter 268: The generous sacrifice is made today

Chapter 268: The generous sacrifice is made today

Lazar Kano probably enjoys Frost’s surprised expression, so he pauses after he finishes speaking.

Anning is shocked on one hand and complaining on the other: 700,000 people, not just seven corps, we’re really ready to conquer the world now.

Then his thoughts, unsurprisingly, head down a different path: Damn it, 700,000 people and seven corps, why is it that these world-conquering things are all related to the number seven?

Could this also be the will of the number seven?

Anning is amused by his own unexpected digression in thought, all within the factory manager’s grasp, huh? Even this can be twisted around to the factory manager, should check the components—oh, it was me who twisted it, never mind then.

Anning finally recovered from his shock (mind wandering), then rubbed his hands and asked, "So, does this mean I can... I mean, can we just rush in and wipe out the coalition?"

Lazar Kano shook his head: "No, under the current chaotic circumstances, it’s likely we can’t organize logistics capable of supporting such a large army. My suggestion is, let the newly reorganized troops launch attacks on the enemy from nearby locations, those close to the coalition will attack the coalition, and those close to the Rebel Army will attack the Rebel Army.

"They can carry enough food for a day or two of fighting, and after that, they can come back to the city to resupply."

Anning: "What does that mean?"

"It means to let the troops rely on the supplies they carry for individual combats. With their number being so large, the coalition probably doesn’t have any good ways to counter them."

Anning touched his face, then realized he hadn’t fully shaved his beard, it was prickly.

"Every unit for itself, fight and then go home? This has really become a vast sea of people’s war. But I feel that relying on these alone we may not be able to defeat the coalition, so how many troops can we actually concentrate for use?"

Lazar Kano: "With our current logistical capabilities, I estimate we can supply up to two hundred thousand troops for concentrated battle. But there is a big problem."

"What’s the problem?" Anning asked, already sensing there would be a problem.

Cano: "We simply don’t have enough Messenger Soldiers and staff officers. To operate so many troops, we need an efficient staff headquarters and a huge number of Messenger Soldiers."

Anning: "Don’t worry about that, Bertier will handle it."

Cano hesitated: "Bertier? Didn’t he just mess up the front-line situation?"

"Yes, this shows he is not suited to be Commander, but as Chief of Staff, there’s no doubt about his capabilities. He’ll handle the command issues of two hundred thousand troops and make the army move as one entity."

Cano: "This... continued to serve as Chief of Staff after just messing up, won’t people refuse to accept it?"

Anning confidently countered: "How many people do you think would question my decision in the army?"

Cano fell silent.

The army has long been treating Anning as an idol to worship, especially the newly enlisted patriotic youths, couldn’t admire General Frost more.

Cano showed a thoughtful expression, clearly having something to say. So Anning spoke, "Just say what you want to say."

Cano: "It’s like this, recently I heard a new claim in Paris saying you might become the new King of France, considering you are marrying the King’s sister..."

Anning cut him off: "The Maids at the Versailles Palace said the same thing, it’s all baseless chatter. I moved into the Versailles Palace simply because it’s the largest independent building complex in the suburbs, suitable for use as barracks, most of our troops are stationed there."

Anning paused, then continued: "Besides, you all say I’m the contemporary Caesar, and I would also like to be Caesar, although now ’Emperor’ is also addressed as Caesar, I’m referring to the original one, Gaius Julius Caesar. Not the one with the surname Augustus. You should be familiar with history, too."

Cano nodded: "Yes, although I’m not as well-informed as Colonel Bonaparte, but yes, I know that Caesar."

Anning: "Did he become Emperor?"

"No, Your Excellency."

"That’s the point."

Having said this, Anning steered the conversation back to the issue of sending troops: "How soon can I lead the troops to set out?"

"If two hundred thousand troops are to march, it would take a few more days to prepare. But if you plan to lead the original troops stationed in Paris as the general reserve..."

"Wait a minute!" Anning interrupted Cano again, "Did you just say two hundred thousand, that is not including the general reserve?"

"Yes, Paris City has two hundred thousand newly formed troops, which is the single largest concentration of troops in any city in the region, followed by fifty thousand in Lyon and..."

"That’s enough, you don’t have to detail it, I won’t be commanding those troops anyway. Then my order is, the general reserve, don’t move!"

Wow, ever since the general reserve was established, I’ve wanted to say this line!

Anning continued, "Have the newly formed troops inside Paris City ready to depart with utmost speed, and issue orders to the dispersed armies everywhere, for them to fight on their own and strike at the closest, republican enemy!"

**

One day later.

Napoleon, defending Sedan, was suddenly awakened by a staff officer: "Your Excellency, you must come and see this, something has happened!"

Napoleon, sleepy: "What sort of big issue? What else could it be, if not an enemy siege? What’s going on, why don’t I hear any cannon fire?"

No sooner had he spoken than the boom of cannon could be heard.

Napoleon quickly discerned the shelling was coming from outside the city.

"Good, the Austrians are attacking!" Napoleon said, rubbing his hands as he rose from his bed.

But the staff officer said: "No! Something’s gone amiss! There’s an unidentified contingent outside, attacking the besieging coalition!"

Napoleon was delighted: "What? Could it be Andy... Has Lord Frost arrived?"

"No, we haven’t seen the general’s battle flag. It’s a completely new contingent we’ve never seen before. The military flag is unrecognizable; if it weren’t for the tricolor flag and our uniforms, we might have mistaken them for enemy reinforcements."

Napoleon frowned at the staff officer: "What kind of nonsense are you talking?"

"See for yourself!"

Napoleon pushed past the staff officer, hurried out of the room, and climbed onto the city walls.

Several staff officers and military officers were already on the wall, looking out with binoculars. Napoleon snatched a pair and looked out himself.

Then, he was stunned: "This army... how are they using skirmish formation to attack the enemy?"

The staff officer: "I have no idea."

Another officer said to Napoleon: "Is it possible that they couldn’t maintain the rows of the advancing attack formation?"

Napoleon, frowning: "...Yes, the new recruits Lazar conscripted... It’s possible."

At that moment, the sound of singing drifted over from the French troops attacking the coalition outside. It was the Hymn of Rome.

Napoleon’s mind raced.

The coalition laying siege outside was caught completely off guard by the sudden appearance of a large French force and was clearly in disarray.

As it was a siege battle, cavalry were of no use, meaning the enemy forces outside lacked cavalry.

No cavalry meant no reconnaissance; the enemy had been ambushed.

And yesterday, the enemy had launched a full day’s assault on the fortress, surely they must be exhausted.

Napoleon suddenly realized that his moment of great fame may have arrived.

"Messenger Soldier, wake up everyone in the fortress! Artillery, get to your positions immediately!"

In fact, after the cannon fire started outside, many of the defending soldiers had already woken up and automatically rushed to their battle stations.

Napoleon: "No, no! Not to man the walls directly, but to assemble in the central square of the fortress!"

The troops stationed in the fortress were well-trained, so they quickly assembled.

Napoleon stood atop a supply department’s wagon and called out to the puzzled soldiers: "I am now calling for volunteers! An unknown contingent has appeared outside the city and is fiercely attacking the besieging coalition!

"The number of this contingent might only be in the tens of thousands, possibly even less, and they are clearly untrained, only capable of charging in skirmish formation! Yet, they have still plunged the coalition into chaos!

"I am enlisting volunteers to leave the fortress with me and take advantage of the confusion to strike the besieging coalition!

"This is a one-way mission, for once we exit the city gates will immediately close behind us, and then the fortress’ deputy commander will assume command!

"I do not know if we will be victorious, we might become prisoners at the enemy’s mercy, or even die in battle. Those willing to accompany me, step forward!"

As Napoleon spoke, the soldiers were already exchanging glances. Upon hearing his last sentence, almost - almost everyone stepped forward.

Napoleon: "Courage be with you! To embrace death generously happens today! Open the city gates!"