Chapter 902: Rush to Vienna
Ney gazed back at the pontoon bridge spanning the Danube for a long moment before turning to Moreau.
"Are you certain we are truly not going to Munich?"
Moreau looked up from the copy of "Commentaries on the Gallic War" in his hands and nodded. "Indeed."
Ney looked toward the bridge again. "Bavaria may have twenty-five thousand troops, but it is highly unlikely they can be recalled from Memmingen to Munich in time."
Memmingen sat on the southwestern border of Bavaria, where the bulk of the Bavarian army was currently stationed.
Moreau raised his book slightly and smiled. "Do you know why the Roman army was so formidable? Because they valued a steady, methodical advance.
"If Dörnberg's legion manages to return and defend Munich in time, we would be forced into a grueling battle."
Ney gripped his riding crop tightly. "Even facing over twenty thousand enemies, I am confident I could crush them!"
Moreau patted his old partner on the shoulder. "I have no doubt of your courage, but such a fight would cost our soldiers dearly. Furthermore, Austria could send reinforcements to strike us from the rear at any moment."
He suddenly recalled Moreau's mention of a "methodical advance" and realized something. "I see. You intend to take Amberg and then head north into Thuringia. That would indeed minimize the risk..."
Moreau glanced at him and said calmly, "No, we are marching on Vienna."
Ney nearly stumbled out of his saddle in shock. "Have you gone mad? Although Austria's main forces are in Italy, they can still scrape together twenty or thirty thousand soldiers domestically.
"Besides, we would be penetrating deep into enemy territory alone. Our supply lines could be severed at any time..."
Moreau gave him a small smile. "It does not matter, as long as Franz II believes we are reckless enough to storm Vienna."
"What?"
Moreau patted Ney again. "Do you know why His Royal Highness the Crown Prince did not give us specific objectives?"
"Why?"
"Because our purpose here is to serve as a deterrent. Therefore, by choosing our tactics on the front lines based on the actual situation, we can cause the greatest possible commotion."
Seeing his old comrade still looking dazed, Moreau added, "Look, we have been idle in Alsace for so long. If we want to catch up even slightly to the record of Napoleon's legion, we must at least threaten Vienna and then annihilate the main Bavarian force, wouldn't you agree?"
He then sighed softly. "Truly, that 'Italian's' talent for command is enviable. He will likely capture Mantua soon, and then we shall be even further behind..."
Vienna.
Schönbrunn Palace.
Franz II looked at the Bavarian messenger, whose eyes were bloodshot from riding through the night, then turned to Hohendorf beside him.
"What units do we have left that can be mobilized?"
Since Marshal Lacy's retirement, the Imperial Military Commission had been short on talent. Hohendorf was currently serving as the commission's chairman.
"Your Majesty, the Ore Mountains Legion still has two thousand soldiers. There are three or four thousand in northern Slovakia, but they are too far away..." Hohendorf mused. "Other than those, we have the Vienna Legion and the Palace Guard, totaling about six thousand men."
In reality, Austria still held significant forces in Hungary and Transylvania, but these were controlled by local nobles. It was no simple task for the Emperor to mobilize them.
Franz II gave a tired wave of his hand. "Then send the Ore Mountains Legion to reinforce Munich."
The Bavarian Foreign Minister, Pappenheim, grew frantic. "Your Majesty, such a small force will hardly suffice to repel the French."
He grit his teeth and raised his voice. "If Bavaria falls, Austria's western border will be directly exposed to the French army."
Franz II replied with some impatience, "Once Marshal Alvinczy resolves the trouble at Mantua, he will immediately lead his army to Munich."
"But..."
Pappenheim was about to argue further when Franz II's attendant entered, followed by an officer.
The officer handed a report to Hohendorf and whispered several sentences in a rapid clip.
Franz II frowned. "Has something happened?"
Hohendorf's expression turned grave as he looked toward Pappenheim. "Ah, well, if you would please..."
Franz II stepped forward, snatched the report from his hand, and after a single glance, blurted out, "The French are coming for Linz?!"
The report stated that the French army had not attacked Munich. Instead, they had moved east from Ingolstadt, capturing the eastern Bavarian city of Passau four days ago, and were continuing their rapid advance eastward.
Passau was immediately adjacent to the major western Austrian town of Linz.
From Linz, it was less than 150 kilometers to Vienna. Moreover, the terrain along that route was almost entirely flat, save for the Danube River.
Franz II paced two circles on the spot before shouting to his attendant, "Have Baron Thugut and the others come to see me at once!"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Before long, Thugut, Cobentzel, and several other high-ranking Austrian officials arrived in Franz II's drawing room, followed by officers from the Military Commission.
The battle report from the front was passed around the group. Cobentzel was the first to speak.
"The French clearly intend to launch a surprise attack while Vienna's defenses are thin."
A senior officer nodded nervously. "Vienna's defensive strength is nowhere near sufficient, and there are no units along the way capable of stopping the French."
Hohendorf added, "If we mobilize forces from the east and south immediately, we should still have time..."
Thugut frowned and raised his hand to silence the room. He then bowed to Franz II.
"Your Majesty, the situation is not actually that dire.
"This French force consists of only fifteen thousand men. They must also detach troops to occupy the cities along their route. At most, only ten thousand troops will reach Vienna.
"With the Vienna garrison and the units we can gather from the surrounding areas, defending the capital should be no problem."
Count Rheinfels added a supplement.
"Furthermore, the French are conducting a long-distance raid. They must transport supplies all the way from Baden. We can easily strike their supply lines!"
Before his voice had even faded, Hohendorf turned to the Bavarian Foreign Minister, who was standing awkwardly in the corner.
"If the army in Munich moves north, they can retake Ingolstadt in just two or three days.
"And that is the bottleneck through which all French supplies must pass."
Baron Thugut finally noticed Pappenheim's presence. After asking Hohendorf in a low voice about the man's purpose, he immediately stepped forward and took him by the arm.
"This arrogant French army has not yet realized they have walked into a dead end. Now is the perfect opportunity for us to join forces and annihilate them!
"If your forces cut off the French supply lines as quickly as possible while His Majesty's army sets out simultaneously, we can catch the French in a pincer movement.
"With their supplies severed and facing superior numbers, the only outcome for the French will be surrender.
"Once they are dealt with, the threat to Munich will naturally vanish."
What he did not say was that Vienna would also be freed from danger at the same time.
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