Novels online

Chapter 1241: All-Out Offensive

Berthier quickly posed a question: "Your Highness, currently, the veteran forces in Baden comprise only the Second Army Group and portions of the First and Fifth Army Groups, totaling about 70,000 men.

"If we are to operate deep behind enemy lines, this number is clearly insufficient.

"Furthermore, Freiburg still holds nearly 30,000 British troops, along with over 40,000 men from Korsakov's Russian Legion.

"They could launch an attack on Baden at any moment, so we must also leave some defensive forces in Baden. This will further reduce the number of troops we can commit to Central Germany."

Joseph nodded.

It had to be admitted that the Coalition commanders were also quite cunning. They had rapidly adjusted their front lines, opting not to continue a war of attrition with the French army in Italy or Switzerland, thereby creating a crucial time gap.

If they waited another month, the large number of new recruits mobilized by France would complete their training and be deployed, and at the same time, the First and Fourth Army Groups in Switzerland would return to the Rhine region, making their troop strength very abundant.

But by then, the Coalition Forces would have already entered their predetermined positions, and the optimal window for a flanking maneuver would have closed.

Joseph pondered for a moment before saying, "The task of defending Baden can be entirely entrusted to the Sixth and Seventh Army Groups."

Berthier instinctively wanted to shake his head—these two army groups were composed entirely of newly recruited soldiers. Should anything go wrong, France would lose its only base on the east bank of the Rhine.

To his surprise, Moreau, looking somewhat excited, interjected, "We could also recall part of the Third Army Group. Using the railway near Trier, they could reach Strasbourg within five days."

Berthier finally couldn't hold back. "No, Your Highness, that would be far too risky!"

The Third Army Group was responsible for defending Cologne on the lower Rhine. Across the river lay nearly 70,000 main Prussian forces. If they were redeployed, the entire Rhineland region would be exposed to danger.

"I believe it's entirely feasible," Joseph said, turning to the Chief of Staff. "Have you forgotten? We sent our left flank army precisely to tie down Brunswick's Legion.

"When they press directly into the Anhalt region, the Duke of Brunswick will have only one choice: to rush back to reinforce it immediately."

Anhalt was the wealthiest region in western Prussia. Stendal and Magdeburg were both located there, and it was only a little over 110 kilometers from Berlin.

If the Duke of Brunswick truly disregarded the threat and crossed the river to attack Cologne, Berlin would fall before he even reached Luxembourg.

Berthier remained uneasy. "Even if we can deploy 100,000 troops, the main force must undoubtedly be positioned on the right flank to confront the Coalition's main strength in the Saxony region. The left flank army probably wouldn't exceed 30,000..."

Victor, standing nearby, suddenly reminded them, "We still have an available army. General Lefebvre is currently in Emden. If he immediately marches south, he could intercept Brunswick's Legion near Hesse.

"Currently, the armies of Hesse and Thuringia have been conscripted by the British to the Upper Rhine, so there should be no one to stop them.

"They could even go directly to Solingen to harass the Prussian forces from behind."

Berthier had been about to say, 'This would allow Moore's Legion, which is defending Emden, to seize the opportunity to attack the Netherlands,' but he immediately smiled and shook his head.

The Dutch would protect their own country, and furthermore, the Flemish Republic was behind them.

Joseph continued, "As for the Baden defense line, with the continuous replenishment of new recruits, there won't actually be too much danger."

Two army groups, or 70,000 new recruits, had now been stationed in Karlsruhe. Unless Suvorov were to somehow return, it would be extremely difficult to defeat them within 20 days.

And the Eighth Army Group, once its training was complete, could reach Baden in just two days to participate in the defense.

Once another month passed, the Ninth and Tenth Army Groups would follow in quick succession. By then, it would be uncertain who would eliminate whom.

Berthier finally fell silent.

Just as Joseph was about to instruct the General Staff to begin drafting specific operational plans, an officer, led by Eman, knocked and entered.

The newcomer handed a Chappe signal tower document to Berthier. The latter tore it open, scanned it, and immediately exclaimed excitedly, "Your Highness, General Masséna has annihilated Picton's Legion outside Basel, killing 2,300 men and capturing nearly 10,000!"

The few people in the room joined in with a round of cheers.

Joseph also smiled and nodded, instructing Berthier, "Order General Masséna to deal with Blücher's Legion as quickly as possible, and then immediately return to Baden."

Berthier looked at the report in his hand, somewhat surprised. "Your Highness, General Masséna is already on his way back. He left 25,000 men from Oudinot's Legion to continue besieging Glarus."

Moreau frowned. "I'm afraid that might not be enough troops, will it?"

According to French intelligence, Blücher might still command nearly 60,000 strong forces.

Berthier handed him the report. "General Masséna said he guarantees there will be no unexpected incidents."

The brief strategic briefing soon concluded, and several senior generals of the General Staff bowed and departed, ready to begin drafting detailed operational plans.

The changing battle situation led Joseph to revise his original itinerary, instructing Eman to proceed directly to Karlsruhe.

Indeed, he was well aware that Berthier's earlier concerns were not unfounded.

In this large-scale flanking operation, the weakest point was Baden's defense.

Korsakov's Russian forces combined with the Duke of York's troops could likely mobilize 60,000 men to attack Baden. In extreme circumstances, they might even abandon Freiburg and launch an all-out assault, which would mean nearly 80,000 troops.

If the 70,000 French new recruits in Baden failed to withstand the pressure, the situation would immediately become dire.

The French army would be forced to retreat to Strasbourg and defend along the Rhine. Meanwhile, the main forces executing the flanking attack would lose contact with the homeland.

Therefore, Joseph decided to personally oversee Baden.

He believed that his prestige would greatly boost the morale of the French army there.

Furthermore, he was also bringing 1,500 soldiers from the Guard Grenadier Battalion. Though their numbers were not large, the weapons and equipment of these noble sons were the best in all of France.

He had heard that, taking advantage of their return to Paris, almost every one of them had privately purchased a revolver. It was known that this item, due to its complex craftsmanship, cost as much as 300 francs. Currently, the French army had only issued a few to its elite cavalry.

Facing this war that would determine France's future, Joseph had to do everything in his power to add another advantage for victory!

On the fourth day of Joseph's arrival in Strasbourg, the General Staff's operational plan was issued to the various army groups—

The eastern route, commanded by Moreau, would consist of the Royal Fifth Army Group, the Ninth Infantry Division, the Twelfth Infantry Division, and two independent Hussar battalions, totaling 64,000 men. They would advance through Nördlingen and Nuremberg to occupy Bayreuth, a Prussian city in western Saxony, and there tie down the main Coalition forces led by Archduke Charles.