Early that morning, An Ning was having breakfast at home, when a letter from Paris was delivered.
The letter was written by Marat. An Ning immediately opened the letter at the dining table and found that except for the news of Lafayette's dispatch of troops, the letter contained no specific details.
An Ning muttered: "It's quite useful. As expected, you can't rely on laymen for this. You have to rely on professional intelligence personnel."
As soon as she finished speaking, Fanny entered the restaurant and said, "The officers are here."
An Ning: "Let them come in. If they haven't eaten, let's eat together."
Fanny bowed slightly, turned and left.
A moment later, the officers entered the dining room, and Lazar Carnot was the first to speak: "Information from Paris indicates that the enemy has about 40,000 troops, about 3,000 cavalry, and more than 80 artillery pieces, and they are heading towards Konta."
An Ning: "The total strength is 40,000, which is about the same as we expected. Have you had breakfast? Sit down and eat together."
Napoleon was not polite and sat down first. Seeing this, the other officers also took their seats.
Fanny led the maids to serve the dishes.
Davout said while eating: "It will take about a week for the enemy to march to Konta. We can set off in five days and camp near the preset battlefield to wait for them."
In this era, it seems that the two warring armies will first march to the battlefield and set up camp more than ten kilometers apart, and then engage in a decisive battle.
This can also prevent the troops from being overtired during battle.
Like Austerlitz, the two sides faced off for many days before the battle began.
An Ning: "Let's eat first. We have sent cavalry to conduct reconnaissance early, and we will wait until they get detailed information. I don't want our troops to live in the wilderness for too long, as that will reduce morale."
Of course, the conditions for sleeping in a tent in the wilderness are not as good as those in a military camp, especially since the military camp here in Anning is a former monastery. The overall conditions are very good. The troops are used to the conditions in the monastery, so their morale will be even worse if they sleep in the wilderness.
Napoleon looked at An Ning's appearance and smiled: "You are so calm, Andy, forty thousand troops are coming towards us! There are more than twice our number!"
An Ning: "The last time I came out to Konta to counter the rebellion, the gap in military strength was almost the same. At that time, my troops were not well trained, and I didn't have outstanding officers like you. I won the battle differently."
Russell, the commander of the second brigade, frowned slightly: "I have been by your side since then."
"Yes, you are indeed here. But at that time you were just a temporarily promoted second lieutenant. You barely knew how to march and fight."
Russell smiled awkwardly: "I... don't really understand it now. Sometimes I can't hear what Davout said."
An Ning smiled.
After all, Russell was promoted from a top soldier, and he could barely read. Lazar Cano told An Ning that the person who was promoted from this top soldier could at most become a regiment commander, but he could not be a more senior officer.
But An Ning deliberately wanted to create a model, a model who was promoted from a top soldier, so he made him a brigade commander.
As for the effect of this, An Ning is not sure.
At least those non-commissioned officers who come from big-headed soldiers will be more diligent.
**
While the peaceful officers were having breakfast, Lafayette was also having breakfast with the officers in his tent.
The middle and senior officers in Lafayette's army were all old aristocrats. During the meal, they talked about Andy and his team who were about to become their opponents.
Count Ernett, commander of the first brigade, said: "Have you heard? That Andy Frost, he specially asked someone to find an apprentice from the dyehouse to be the leader of the teaching team! An apprentice from the dyehouse! During the battle
, he is afraid that he will wet his pants directly and dye his pants!"
The officers laughed.
Lafayette smiled too.
But Berthier still looked serious: "In his officer corps, Lazar Cano and Louis-Nicolas Davout are very good talents and cannot be underestimated."
Count Ernette: "There is also a dwarf from Corsica in his officer corps! I heard that he is only one meter tall and is a dwarf! When loading the cannon, he has to jump up to get to the muzzle!
"
The noble officers laughed again.
Lafayette said: "It's better not to do this. We must respect the enemy. After all, he is also a person who has fought very exaggerated battles. We must give him enough attention."
Lafayette paused and continued: "It is precisely because I value him that I brought out 40,000 elite soldiers, most of whom were the original Royal Army. If he thinks that we are a group like the rebels in Konta before,
Out of the crowd, he is the one who looks good!"
Count Onette: "No matter how you put it, the battle strength is 40,000 versus 10,000, and the advantage is mine!"
An officer immediately retorted: "No, no, there are fifteen thousand people."
Count Onette said contemptuously: "Huh, five thousand women! What's the use of that? Let me see, just dispatching our cavalry troops can seal the victory in one fell swoop! Our cavalry can first defeat those women cavalry, and then
Rush into the enemy's line. Most of Frost's troops are men in trousers, and they might not even be able to line up in a square formation! The battle will be over in a flash!"
The officers at the table nodded one after another, and the commander of the cavalry unit, Marquis Roland, said seriously: "I still hope they will resist for a while, otherwise our victory will be without glory."
The officers laughed again.
The whole tent was full of joy.
Just then, someone shouted: "Report!"
Lafayette raised his eyebrows: "Come in, what's the matter?"
A staff officer opened the curtain and came in: "News from Paris, His Majesty the King is missing!"
Lafayette was shocked: "What? Missing?"
"Yes, His Majesty the King and his family were nowhere to be found in the Tuileries Palace today. The servants of the Tuileries Palace said that His Majesty the King and his family went out last night!"
Lafayette pounded the table hard: "Damn it! What happened?"
Count Onette asked doubtfully: "His Majesty the King... fled? Why? Now his reputation is rising, especially in remote areas, and the calls for His Majesty to come back are getting louder and louder. He shouldn't flee at this time.
ah."
Berthier asked: "Do you want to turn around and go back?"
Lafayette thought for a while and shook his head: "No, we won't go back. His Majesty the King's escape must be related to Frost! If we defeat Frost, His Majesty will give up his unrealistic ideas!"
Berthier asked worriedly: "What if His Majesty runs away to Austria? There are a large number of nobles abroad who want to restore the old order and they will gather under His Majesty the King."
Lafayette shook his head: "The first thing we have to worry about now is Frost, the traitor! If we defeat him, nothing will be a problem! He is the cause of all problems!"