Chapter 783: The Siege of Genoa
Argentau initially thought the French were only feigning an attack. After all, given the current situation, retreating westward to defend Cadibona Pass seemed like the most reasonable tactical choice.
It wasn't until Voltri fell that he finally realized.
Dumoubin was serious.
So he hastily recalled the troops he had sent out for a feint attack, but it was clearly already a bit late.
Dumoubin's vanguard, the Moulins Legion, arrived at Turqino Pass practically on the heels of Argentau's forces, and then launched a fierce assault.
Turqino Pass was located west of Genoa harbor, at the very end of the Alps mountain range.
Although several kilometers wide, it was the only terrain outside Genoa that could be used for defense.
Argentau watched the French cannons thunder relentlessly from the high ground to the north, and loudly asked a nearby staff officer, "So, how much longer until our reinforcements arrive?"
"General, according to intelligence received yesterday noon, Tavignia's Legion has already departed from Milan."
He hadn't expected the French to be so desperate, committing almost all their forces.
He had only 7,000 soldiers, making it difficult to hold out for so long against an offensive of over 20,000 French troops.
As Argentau pondered how to delay until reinforcements arrived, a captain rushed over, reporting in a disheveled state, "General, General, two hours ago, a group of Genoese rioters set fire to our warehouse on Cannive Avenue..."
The so-called "rioters" were actually a few dozen young Genoese nobles.
They had received secret orders from Governor Abbiasso to sabotage the Austrian rear. The warehouse requisitioned by the Austrians happened to be the family property of one of them, a man named Agladi.
Agladi, knowing the place intimately, led his companions through a hidden side door into the warehouse. Then, he gathered the servants there—who had been pressed into service as porters by the Austrian army—and effortlessly set fires in over a dozen spots throughout the warehouse simultaneously.
Two shiploads of supplies, delivered by British transport ships just the day before yesterday, instantly turned to ashes.
"Cannive Avenue?" Argentau paused, his face immediately changing. That was where the legion's rations and some cannonballs were stored.
Genoa was a place that produced no food whatsoever, but thanks to the substantial profits from maritime trade, they could always purchase food from North Africa or Sicily.
However, with only sixty to seventy thousand inhabitants in Genoa city, the sudden addition of over 7,000 soldiers immediately caused food shortages.
Originally, there were provisions supplied by the British, enough for Argentau to last for over half a month, but now with the warehouse burned, he would immediately run out of food. The next shipment wouldn't arrive for another half a month.
On the battlefield, a dozen infantry columns of the Moulins Legion suddenly surged forward, deploying on the Austrian left flank. Then, the percussion cap muskets erupted in a flurry of dense fire. Under the intense barrage, the Austrian defensive line immediately began to waver.
Argentau hastily ordered a reserve battalion to move up, barely stabilizing the situation. But immediately after, he saw French infantry lines appearing on the north side of the pass, while over a dozen cannons also began to advance.
Argentau watched the French army's overwhelming assault, silently lamenting his plight.
At this rate, his defensive line would last at most three or four days—if food didn't run out before then.
Food?
Suddenly, something occurred to him.
The French were completely disregarding the passage to their west, committing all their forces to attacking Genoa. In that case, the Cervoni Legion would soon be able to control Cadibona Pass, which was the French army's logistical supply route.
So, there was no point in him engaging the French head-on here.
He should allow the French to enter Genoa, buying time for the reinforcements from Milan to link up with him.
Once the French ran out of rations in Milan, they would have to surrender without him wasting a single cannonball.
It must be said, Argentau's plan was sound.
In the historical Battle of Marengo, Masséna, whom Napoleon had placed in Genoa as bait, held out for over 50 days under severe food shortages, ultimately forced to march his starving soldiers out of the city to surrender.
Currently, Masséna had been transferred to the Rhine front by Joseph, and old General Dumoubin was about to draw fire here in his stead.
However, Dumoubin was relatively lucky, as he would receive supplies from the French navy via the Mediterranean Sea.
History would not repeat itself for him.
The next morning, when Dumoubin ordered his soldiers to launch a new offensive, he was surprised to find Cadibona Pass eerily quiet; Argentau's forces had retreated eastward last night.
Two days later, Joubert, leading two infantry regiments, entered the undefended city of Genoa, welcomed by cheering Genoese residents.
Dumoubin wasted no time. After a brief rest, he ordered Joubert and Augereau to construct defensive lines around Genoa.
He himself went to the Genoa Governor's Palace and publicly read His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's pledge to "forever support Genoa's neutral status and never interfere in Genoa's internal affairs," while also urging the Habsburg family to promptly repay the decades-long debts owed to the Bank of Genoa.
Indeed, Genoa's gradual decline beginning in the 18th century was largely due to the Habsburg family borrowing massive loans from them but refusing to repay.
Of course, a large portion of these debts had been incurred by the former Spanish Habsburg royal family, but who could sort out such ancient accounts with precision?
As for the loans France owed Genoa, the Crown Prince declared that the French valued their reputation most highly and guaranteed repayment of principal and interest.
'Hm, once the war in Italy is over, these debts will all be transferred to Austria in the form of war reparations. The French certainly wouldn't renege on their word!'
A week later, Colli's Sardinian Legion arrived in Novi Ligure.
Following that, the Cervoni Legion advanced from the west, pressing toward Turqino Pass.
By this point, nearly 50,000 Coalition forces (Austro-Sardinian forces) had completed their encirclement of Dumoubin's Legion and, after several days of rest, launched a fierce attack on Genoa.
...
Northwest Italy.
Novara.
Inside the officers' tent at the French camp, Napoleon quickly sketched three arrows on a map with a pencil, then looked at the officers before him with burning eyes. "We now have three options.
"Attack Turin to the south. This could force Sardinia to withdraw from the Anti-French Coalition.
"Southeast, the longest route, to Genoa, to attack Melas's army from the rear. If General Dumoubin cooperates well, we could form a pincer attack against the enemy."
He then pointed to the arrow furthest right. "East, to attack Milan, and seize the Austrian headquarters in Italy."
Marmont spoke without much hesitation, "Commander, we should prioritize General Dumoubin's safety.
"According to the intelligence received yesterday, he is facing an enemy nearly twice his size in an encirclement."
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