Life of Being a Crown Prince in France

Chapter 1311: Chapter 1216: Russia Enters the Game

Joseph raised his hand to signal the generals to calm down, then came to the front of the conference table and said loudly:

“Please trust, France possesses the power to defeat any enemy.

“I can assure everyone, that by February next year, the front lines will be reinforced with at least 150,000 troops, corresponding weapons and equipment, and more than 35,000 mules.

“We will crush all opponents with our inexhaustible mobilization capability!”

All the officers began to whisper in shock.

It is already close to November, meaning the Crown Prince intends to recruit 150,000 troops within just over three months!

It’s known that training new recruits takes three months. Even the ’rapid training’ program by the General Staff requires nearly two months.

The recruitment time is almost only about a month.

Bertier cautiously said, “Your Highness, if too many local garrisons are deployed, it will create defensive gaps domestically. For instance, the British might land on the western coast.”

According to his plan, the Crown Prince aims to transfer the 70,000 domestic garrison and recruit 80,000 new soldiers. Although completing such a large-scale recruitment within three months is challenging, it seems to be the only option.

“No, you misunderstand.” Joseph shook his head and said, “The domestic garrison will not be reduced. These 150,000 troops will all be newly recruited.”

Bertier frowned, “Your Highness, this seems rather…”

Joseph firmly interrupted him, “Please have the General Staff prepare the year-end defensive deployment, and I’ll handle the rest.

“By February next year, we will launch a full-scale counterattack.”

That afternoon, Joseph left Mantua, took a carriage back to Paris.

…

Verona.

At the Austrian Army headquarters.

In front of Archduke Karl lay a plea for help from Blücher—it was originally sent to the garrison in Freiburg and, after several reports, was finally placed in his hands.

Verossi cautiously said, “Marshal, from the current situation, if no reinforcements are sent, the Prussian Corps is likely to be annihilated…”

Although the French Army surrounding Blücher numbers only about 55,000, and the Austrian Army has nearly 70,000, all the officers in the conference room have no doubt that in a decisive battle, the Austrian Army would inevitably lose.

Not to mention the disparity in combat capability, the Blücher Corps has failed twice in breaking through the St. Gotthard Pass, their morale must be very low.

Furthermore, the plea for help mentioned that their food supplies were running low.

Archduke Karl’s face turned ashen. If Blücher’s forces were lost, not only would it greatly weaken the Allied Forces’ manpower advantage, but it would also heavily impact their morale, even shaking Berlin’s resolve to participate in the war.

He was silent for a long time before finally speaking, “Let General Picton head to Switzerland for reinforcement. The Duke of Castelanza’s corps will go to Stuttgart.”

He knew the 70,000 new recruits under the Duke of Castelanza were far less capable in combat compared to Picton’s Hesse and Thuringia troops.

“Yes, Marshal.”

Verossi took the order and left, but soon returned with a document: “Marshal, this is a report from the Russian Army in Klagenfurt applying for increased logistical supplies.”

Archduke Karl turned his head, “They have reached Klagenfurt? Their marching speed is not slow.”

He suddenly thought of something, “Wait, we can have the Russians reinforce Switzerland.”

From Klagenfurt to Zurich takes a few more days than Picton moving south from Wurttemberg, but Archduke Karl was very unwilling to have that Russian come to Northern Italy and compete with him for command—Franz II admired Suvorov greatly, even last month granting him the title of Imperial Marshal. Newest update provided by noveⅼfire.net

Also, fighting in the barren and rugged terrain of Switzerland would undoubtedly result in heavy casualties. He didn’t mind depleting Russian soldiers at all.

Archduke Karl immediately signed an order and handed it to the Order Officer.

Southwestern border fortress of Austria, Klagenfurt.

An Austrian officer glanced at the old, ragged-uniformed, coarse-skinned Russian soldiers beside him, arrogantly handing the dispatch to Suvorov: “Marshal, this is from the Allied Army Headquarters for you.”

Suvorov lazily scrutinized him up and down, smiling, “I heard that in the ’attack’ at Venice, Archduke Karl lost some soldiers?”

The Austrian officer’s face instantly turned red, “We almost captured the Crown Prince of France.”

He was referring to the ten-day tour of the Trusted Aide Grenadier Battalion in Trento. The Austrian Army up till now believed they repelled a French Army attack there.

“So you didn’t capture him.” Suvorov nonchalantly waved his hand, then opened the dispatch.

He frowned, passing the document to the adjutant beside him, “It’s in German, please read it to me.”

In fact, his German was extremely fluent, but the attitude of the Austrians, assuming the role of ’Allied Commander,’ displeased him greatly.

The adjutant quickly read in French: “Respected Alexander Vasilevich Suvorov, Marshal. Due to recent changes on the battlefield, the General Staff requires you to go to Switzerland for reinforcement…”

Suvorov frowned angrily, “What should be done now is to concentrate forces to capture Mantua; the surrounded army should completely abandon it!”

“The Duke of Castelanza is heading to Verona, Marshal,” the Austrian officer said, “Please comply with the overall deployment of the Allied Forces.”

“I must write a letter to Archduke Karl.” Suvorov said with a dark expression to the Order Officer, “Order the troops to turn west.”

…

Genoa Port.

Joseph boarded the steam cruiser “Mica.”

To save time, he would take a ship from here to Marseille, then travel north on a steam paddle ship, arriving in Paris in about a week.

In the captain’s cabin, he looked at the newly delivered manuscript about the intrigue behind Alexander I’s patricide, and made some simple edits.

This manuscript was written by Baron Scheller and was portrayed so vividly and meticulously, as if he had witnessed the assassination at Gatchina Palace in person on that day.

The latter half was extremely emotional, painting Paul I as the most tragic emperor and father, calling upon all Europeans to condemn the demon in Saint Petersburg.

According to Joseph’s instructions, there were several serialized articles which would begin with Alexander and his minions’ conspiracy.

Anyway, it’s something no one can disprove.

Joseph had already instructed the Paris Commercial News to spearhead spreading these “inside stories” across Europe.

Since Alexander I chose to enter the game, he shouldn’t think of easily extracting himself.

After revising the manuscript, Joseph handed it to Eman, telling him to have it sent back to Paris, then remembered something and asked, “Has the letter to Viscount Olivier been sent?”

“Yes, Your Highness. It was sent yesterday afternoon,” Eman bowed and said, “It’ll be delivered to Constantinople by steam paddle ship, reaching Kursk in about a month.”