Chapter 774: Taking the Emperor’s Intuition
Seeing Victor's puzzled face, Napoleon prompted: "Do you remember the age of Marshal Beaulieu?"
"Ah, he seems to be 69 years old."
"Yes, 69 years old." Napoleon nodded, "He has fought for more than 50 years and has very rich experience.
"If he finds that his former army has encountered no resistance after entering France, he will definitely become extremely vigilant.
"On the contrary, we launched a fierce counterattack, and he will be convinced that he can easily capture Toulon."
Victor suddenly realized: "That's true. Victory will urge the Austrians to penetrate deeper quickly."
He suddenly thought of the current deployment of the Italian Front and reminded: "Lieutenant Colonel Buwanaba, is our army's current position too far back?"
Napoleon positioned the French army west of Nice. This means that the easternmost side of Toulon Province has no defensive forces - Nice is the largest city on the east side of Toulon, and this is the best place to defend it.
Napoleon said: "The deeper the Austrian army goes into Toulon, the longer its front will be, which will be more conducive for us to find weak points to attack.
"Moreover, this will also allow Monaco to spend more on its military."
Monaco is a small principality in the southeasternmost part of France, located 10 kilometers east of Nice, at the foot of the Alps.
If Austria wants to attack Nice, it must first attack Monaco.
Although the Principality of Monaco is a protectorate of France, it still has great independence. Facing the threat from Austria this time, it will inevitably use all its national strength to resist, and it will inevitably be tied more closely to France in the future.
Victor was still hesitant: "Lieutenant Colonel Bouwanaba, if the Austrians enter Nice, they can go north from here to Bresse. And our army has not set up a defense line north of Toulon..."
"No, you don't need to worry." Napoleon said with great certainty, "Beaulieu will definitely continue to the west and attack the port of Toulon."
"Can you tell me your basis?"
"Because the British will ask Beaulieu to do this, where our Mediterranean fleet is parked." Napoleon said and tapped his forehead with his index finger, "And, my intuition."
"Will this..."
Napoleon smiled and patted him on the back: "You'd better use this time to buy the winter clothes of the Toulouse Army. Maybe we will cross the Alps soon. You know, at this time of year, the snow on the top of the mountain has not yet melted. .”
……
Eastern Monaco.
Town of Larvoto.
After the Austrian forward Provera Corps destroyed the French guard tower at the Catibona Pass, it was immediately attacked by the "Provence Border Guards".
The Austrians were caught off guard at first and lost dozens of people, but soon they repelled the hundreds of French border guards under the personal command of Major General Provera.
Then Provera followed Marshal Beaulieu's order, taking the Grenadier Battalion as the forerunner, and quickly rushed westward until he reached the town of Larvoto on the border of Monaco, where he met the French army who had reorganized their defense line again.
and, 500 soldiers of the Monaco Royal Guard.
Provera immediately showed the style of a famous Austrian general.
On the one hand, he mobilized an infantry regiment to cooperate with the grenadier battalion to storm the defensive positions of the French and Moroccan coalition forces. On the other hand, he sent cavalry around the north side of Monte Carlo, the capital of Monaco, and approached the castle of the Grand Duke of Monaco.
As expected, the Monaco Guard panicked and hurriedly withdrew to Monte Carlo to protect their king.
The 800 French border guards in the town of Larvoto were suddenly unable to support themselves. They were defeated by the Austrian grenadiers in less than two hours, and fled to Monte Carlo together.
Provera rested in the town for a night, and the next day he ordered all 5,000 soldiers under his command to attack Monaco - yesterday afternoon, all his legions had passed the Catibona Pass.
In fact, Monaco is about the same size as the city of Nice. An army of 5,000 could almost plow its territory neatly.
The French and Moroccan coalition forces only fired a few symbolic shots and covered the Grand Duke of Monaco's escape to Nice.
At the same time, Monaco's diplomats also formally requested Paris to send troops for protection.
However, the French troops seemed to be defending the Bresse line, and Toulon's forces were very limited.
It was not until the Provera Legion arrived at the city of Nice that the French reluctantly gathered around 1,000 people.
Sanremo, a city in southwestern Sardinia.
In the headquarters of the Austrian-Italian Front, Beaulieu listened to the military intelligence report from the front line with a smile on his face.
The French did not expect that they would march from the south, and Toulon's weak defensive forces were enough to illustrate this point.
Provera easily defeated the French defenders and successfully occupied Nice. Now he could use this place as a stronghold to launch an attack on the Toulon Fortress.
He looked at the troop movements on the wall and said to the herald: "Order Argento and Vukasev to speed up their march and must pass the Alps before noon tomorrow.
"Tell them not to let their guard down.
Check out the 16-9 book bar and see the correct version!
"After entering France, immediately set up camp and disperse the cavalry for reconnaissance. Wait until all the middle route troops have passed the mountain pass before continuing to advance."
"Yes, Marshal."
Beaulieu waited for the herald to leave, thought for a while, and then said to his staff: "To report the victory to His Majesty the Emperor, tell us that our army is making good progress in Italy. By the time the news is sent to Vienna, Tullon should have been occupied.
"Also urge the British to send logistics supplies to the port of La Condamine.
"We are going to prepare supplies for the attack on Bresse."
La Condamine Port is a small port in Monaco.
Five days later.
The Provera Army left Nice and launched an attack on the town of Cagnes, 11 kilometers away to the west.
At the same time, Sebotendorf on the left wing of the Austrian army began to besiege Vence, an important town in the south-central part of Toulon.
Provela put away the telescope, looked back at the marching column, and said to the herald: "Let these lazy guys walk faster, and try to enter Cagne to spend the night tonight."
He had conducted repeated reconnaissance before and confirmed that there were no French troops around Nice. He only needed to plant the flag in the town along the way to complete the occupation.
However, it seems that God has felt that he has given him too much military exploits and needs to give him some training. A cavalryman came to salute him and said: "General, the French defense line was found outside Cagnes, with more than 3,000 people."
Provela frowned: "Where did this army come from?"
"Looking at the flag, it should be the Montpellier Regiment, General."
Provera nodded. If we make a quick march to Montpellier, we will arrive in about a week.
He immediately ordered: "The French should be very tired, attack immediately!"
"Yes, General!"
At noon that day, Sebottendorf also encountered thousands of French troops in Vence.
He also gave the order to attack without hesitation.
(End of chapter)