Descending On France 1780
Chapter 277: Bertier demands clear rewards and punishments

Chapter 277: Bertier demands clear rewards and punishments

Anning finally arrived at Babi Village.

Then he was shocked.

Where were the enemies?

What happened to the 20,000 isolated Austrians in Babi Village?

Where were the people?

Seeing the arrival of the General’s flag, the commanders of the three brigades defending Babi Village hurried over on horseback, not daring to neglect.

Leading the way was the older Dark Horse, Clay Bell and Moro flanking him left and right.

Anning immediately asked: "Where are the Austrians? Why do I only see corpses?"

Clay Bell: "We have defeated the Austrians."

Anning stared at Clay Bell: "Was it your doing?"

Clay Bell pointed to the older Dark Horse beside him: "No, no, the Commander is this one, it wasn’t me, I only made a minor contribution."

Anning turned and looked at the older Dark Horse’s black face: "So writers can fight wars too?"

The last time Anning saw the older Dark Horse, he was busy with other matters, greeted him and continued on his way, so he didn’t have the chance to clear up this misunderstanding.

This time, the older Dark Horse seized the opportunity: "I am not a writer, General, why do you keep calling me a writer?"

Anning paused, then he finally realized that he might have made a mistake; this should be an even older one than Alexandre Dumas.

He smiled awkwardly: "Hahaha, indeed, I was mistaken, then I can only wish your son becomes a great writer."

Anning quickly shifted the topic: "So you used three brigades to defeat 20,000 Austrians?"

"Yes." The older Dark Horse nodded, "Actually, it wasn’t my merit. Originally, following military common sense, I thought a troop that couldn’t even march in formation couldn’t launch an attack, only defend. When I saw Clay Bell attacking, I thought things were going to go badly."

Clay Bell was about to speak, Moro cut in: "General, an army composed of citizens of freedom truly differs from the Kingdom Army!"

Anning thought that’s certainly true. On the game board of Continental Europe, France itself has an idea of a 0.33 morale bonus for the army, after Revolution, morale gets a further 10 percent boost, morale so high it’s like an extraterrestrial, plus a 2% morale recovery.

Realizing his mind had wandered, Anning quickly pulled himself back.

Anning: "You did very well, it can be compared to the great victory of Napoleon at the Sedan Fortress! Especially you, Clay Bell, I am very satisfied. We are currently short of commanders, and with this victory, promoting you to Brigadier General will definitely be unopposed."

Clay Bell looked at the older Dark Horse and Moro.

Anning quickly added: "They will be promoted too! All three of you can be Brigadier Generals!"

Clay Bell immediately nodded: "I couldn’t ask for more, I originally volunteered to help build the fortress, somehow it turned into commanding troops, but I feel... I seem to be rather good at it."

Anning thought you certainly are, you are Clay Bell.

"Let’s leave the discussion of rewards and merits aside for now, we need to press the advantage. Can your brigades still fight?" Anning asked.

Now he had all newly formed troops in his hands, although there were a lot, they lacked war experience and training, having the three seasoned brigades as the backbone would make a big difference.

Clay Bell patted his chest: "The troops are high in spirit, and hearing about your arrival, if you don’t let them continue to attack, they might mutiny."

The older Dark Horse also nodded: "Yes, our losses aren’t too significant, we can continue to fight."

Anning: "That’s great, follow along then, the arrangement of the marching column will be..."

Anning furrowed his brows, formerly matters like marching column and logistics, he would just leave them to Bertier, as the General was just a hands-off manager.

Now with Bertier acting as the interim Commander, these matters could only be handled by Anning with instructors freshly recruited from Paris Military Academy, which was really a headache.

Deeply understanding the importance of Bertier, Napoleon’s defeat at Waterloo would have probably been avoided with Bertier.

Anning: "Let’s talk about the marching column later, tonight I’ll definitely arrange it for you. Now, first, let’s reward the victorious troops, attendants, logistics officer! Come, serve the good wine and meat, this is for the victorious army!"

**

Anning set up the command post in Babi Village, then sent a fast horse to call back Bertier.

’’’

This night, Anning was personally writing a victorious report to Paris when Julian knocked on the door and said, "Bertier has arrived."

"Let him in," Anning said, putting down the pen and looking up at the door.

Bertier entered the room with a nervous look on his face.

"Your Excellency..." he started, then couldn’t continue.

Anning: "Defend yourself. I’ve waited so late just to hear your defense."

Bertier pressed his lips together, saying nothing.

Anning: "If you won’t defend yourself, I will have to speak."

He stood up and approached Bertier: "Your biggest problem is that you are too rule-bound. The battlefield is ever-changing, its biggest principle is having no set principles, and every plan inevitably deviates once it’s put into action, understand?

"A commander must be able to seize fleeting opportunities on the battlefield, possessing sharp insight and intuition. Napoleon is particularly good at this, which is why he has just won a great victory."

Bertier: "Your Excellency, you are right."

"You have no objections?" Anning asked. "This is the time to voice them, speak frankly."

Bertier: "I have no objections."

"Is it that you dare not have objections or you truly have none? Be clear."

Bertier: "I have no objections, what you said is very correct. I plan to retire and go home, use my savings to buy a vineyard..."

Anning: "What are you talking about, Bertier!"

Bertier paused, stunned: "Ah?"

Then he began to tremble: "Could it be... you’re sending me to the guillotine?"

Anning was even more surprised: "The guillotine? What are you talking about?"

Bertier: "Oh right, the army usually executes by firing squad..."

"No, no, no, don’t rush, slow down!" Although Anning said not to rush, he himself was agitated, "There’s no guillotine, no execution by shooting, you have acknowledged your mistake, so come back and continue as my Chief of Staff."

Jokingly, there’s still a whole desk of paperwork waiting for you.

Dealing with it myself for two days almost killed me.

Bertier with a bewildered face: "What? Just...like that?"

"What, you object? Is it unfair to make an exception, which could compromise military discipline? Should rewards and punishments be clear, right?"

Bertier: "Correct."

Anning was speechless, this guy just thought he was headed for the guillotine, trembling like who knows what, and now he’s stressing over clear rewards and punishments, always so troublesome.

At that moment, Anning had an excellent idea.

He snapped his fingers.

Then Julian came in.

Anning: "No, not you, where’s Vanni?"

"Me?" Vanni peeked through the door; she seemed to have just pushed Julian inside.

"Yes, you. Do you have any extra maid outfits?"

"Of course, keeping them clean and tidy is a servant’s duty."

"What duty, stop saying things like that... Just bring one."

Vanni: "What are you thinking?"

"My Chief of Staff Bertier thinks we should make distinctions in rewards and punishments, and not let someone who’s made a mistake continue as Chief of Staff without paying any price. So I’ve decided to severely penalize his error, by having him wear a maid’s outfit while finishing the staff work tomorrow."

Bertier gasped.

Seeing his expression, Anning felt even more encouraged: "Why take a breath, clear rewards and punishments right? It was your suggestion. Vanni, take him down to change!"

’’’