Chapter 781: Overlooking Lombardy
Napoleon looked towards the distant, white-capped peaks. Without hesitation, he spurred his horse's flanks, riding towards the hillside, and turned his head to the quartermaster staff officer.
"Don't worry about supplies. Have you forgotten the benevolent Saint Bernard Hospice on the mountain?"
He was referring to the monastery built by Brother Bernard of Menthon in the 11th century, located halfway up the Alps. Over the centuries, it had been expanded multiple times and was now substantial enough to provide provisions for thousands of soldiers.
The quartermaster staff officer paused, taken aback, then quickly rode to catch up, saying,
"Commander, uh, I must remind you, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince strictly forbids us from 'privately requisitioning supplies' from Italian towns."
The so-called 'requisitioning supplies' was actually a polite way of saying 'allowing soldiers to loot.'
Napoleon displayed a cunning smile:
"Yes, we won't requisition supplies in Italy. But His Highness didn't say we couldn't accept gifts from the monastery.
"Besides, Major Odoric isn't here, so some things can be handled with a little more flexibility, can't they?"
The quartermaster staff officer continued his efforts to dissuade him: "Look, even if we receive aid from the monks, supplies will still be scarce. The monastery's provisions will only last the army for a week at most. And once we reach Fort Bard, we'll likely face a protracted siege. Therefore, we should wait until the supplies from Bresse arrive before..."
"You needn't worry about the fortress," Napoleon appeared completely confident. "On that front, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has already 'resolved' it for me.
"And setting off two days earlier will grant us greater strategic initiative."
Historically, after crossing the Great Saint Bernard Pass, the French army besieged Fort Bard for half a month without making any progress. Eventually, a soldier heard from local shepherds that there was a small path on the side of the fortress, allowing them to slip past under the cover of night.
However, due to the previous attacks on the fortress, the defenders remained in a state of high alert. Consequently, only the French infantry managed to pass through the path undetected; the defenders discovered them when they later tried to transport cannons.
The Austrian defenders began to block the path with artillery fire. The French army ultimately had to abandon the cannons in the rear, with only six cannons managing to enter Italy.
This time, however, Joseph had informed Napoleon in advance about the small path near Fort Bard. The French army could silently pass without alerting the defenders from the outset, significantly increasing the likelihood of transporting the cannons past the fortress.
As for the exact location of the path, Emperor Napoleon would naturally find locals to inquire about it.
Two days later.
French artillerymen, to the beat of military drums, chanted in unison as they urged donkeys and mules to drag enormous tree trunks up the mountainside.
This was an idea conceived by Marmont, the commander of the artillery battalion.
Hollowing out the tree trunks, then inserting the cannon barrels and securing them, allowed them to be dragged across the snow.
Without his invention, all the 12-pounder cannons would have had to remain at the foot of the mountain—it would have been utterly impossible to maneuver these nearly two-ton cannon carriages up the steep, snow-covered slopes.
As dusk approached, the Moulins Legion's cavalry battalion was the first to arrive at the Saint Bernard Hospice.
The monks, without needing a reminder, eagerly retrieved food and wine from their cellars, 'joyfully welcoming the royal army.'
The abbot of the hospice personally presented Napoleon with a 'generous gift' of 200,000 francs. He had certainly fulfilled his duties as a gracious host.
The next day, Napoleon bid farewell to the abbot. Unable to refuse such hospitality, he had his soldiers take eight large carts of grain and dried meat from the hospice, and they continued their journey.
Amidst the enthusiastic barking of dozens of Saint Bernard dogs behind them, Napoleon said to Marmont, who was beside him:
"You see, if Mr. Hannibal had also served God back then, his soldiers might not have had to endure hunger and cold while crossing the Alps. Oh, and they might even have received extra allowances."
The latter queried, puzzled: "Are you talking about... allowances?"
"Precisely. Ten francs per soldier, and officers will receive theirs according to rank." Napoleon nodded.
He took 150,000 francs from the abbot's generous gift to distribute as allowances to the soldiers. Once they entered Italy, they would become an isolated force in a perilous situation, making it essential to appropriately boost morale.
A week later, Napoleon looked back at Fort Bard behind him, a triumphant smile gracing his face.
He took a deep breath, muttering to himself:
'Praise be to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince! You have granted me this vast battlefield, and I shall repay you with glorious victory.'
Just last night, he had ordered his soldiers to pave the small path on the western side of the fortress with a mixture of hay and dung to muffle their footsteps. Then, over three hours, all the soldiers, cannons, and vehicles of the entire army had successfully bypassed the formidable fortress.
Now, spread before Napoleon, was the boundless Lombardy plain.
......
Just as Napoleon was preparing to enter the Great Saint Bernard Pass, outside the town of Dego, west of Genoa, Roberto Vannoni glanced back at the French army, winding into the distance as far as the eye could see. Nervously gripping his horse's reins, he whispered to Dumouriez beside him: "Esteemed General, uh, I mean no offense, I just wish to confirm again. Once we reach Voltri, you will sign the agreement with our nation."
He was a secret envoy sent by Michelangelo Abbiasso, the Doge of Genoa.
Two days prior, an Austrian army had forcefully invaded Genoa, taking control of its local administration and all defenses.
Abbiasso's negotiations with General Argentau, the Austrian commander, had been unsuccessful. So, acting on the advice of several councilors, he dispatched an envoy to contact the French forces that had entered the Italian peninsula.
To his surprise, the French had unhesitatingly agreed to help Genoa drive out the Austrians, repeatedly emphasizing that they would withdraw from Genoa immediately after the battle.
Dumouriez smiled and nodded: "Once His Excellency the Doge sends someone with your authorization, we can immediately sign the agreement.
"In fact, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has repeatedly reiterated that Genoa's status as a neutral port must be respected. And France has no intention whatsoever of disrupting this arrangement."
The Genoese envoy was overjoyed, a smile of respectful deference gracing his face as he declared: "Praise be to His Benevolent and Great Royal Highness the Crown Prince! He is truly God's representative of order on earth. He brings fairness and justice to Italy! I swear that every citizen of Genoa will forever remember His Highness's selfless assistance!"
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