Chapter 359 Davout and Massena Have Unique Views on Orders
An Ning himself became suspicious: "Is it really possible? It will take at least a month for us to send a letter to Italy. The messenger also has to cross the Alps. Even if we don't consider the enemy's checkpoints, it will take a long time, right?"
Berthier asked: "How long do you think it will take to attack the city step by step? Can it be done in a month?"
An Ning was speechless: "I don't think so. I mean, if the enemy has enough food and grass, he can't."
In fact, as long as there is a way to break into the city, the French army should be able to win quickly. The problem is how to break into the city.
Except for charging forward with casualties, the remaining methods are very time-consuming.
For example, doing soil work, digging tunnels, etc., all require a lot of time.
At that time, An Ning regained the feeling of playing Europa Universalis 4, launching a general from a fortress and then surrounding it for half a year.
An Ning: "We will take a two-pronged approach. While contacting Davout, we will mobilize heavy artillery and first attack the cities that are more important for us to establish communication lines. Can we mobilize the navy's heavy artillery? Or dispatch the navy from the mouth of the Danube into the canal and move up the river...
…”
Berthier: "Then we must first defeat the Royal Navy's Mediterranean Fleet, and then convince the Ottoman Sultan to allow us to pass through those two straits."
An Ning slapped her forehead with her hand: "Damn it, forget about the British. Wait, the British didn't declare war on us..."
"Do you think they will sit back and watch us bypass Istanbul? No, no, even if there is no declaration of war, the Royal Navy may rob our warships because they have a privateering license, but they generally don't do this kind of thing now.
"But if we go around Istanbul, you will soon receive news that our fleet has been robbed by Barbary pirates."
An Ning curled her lips: "'Barbary Pirates'..."
"Yes, the Barbary pirates, or maybe the Knights Hospitallers, intercepted our fleet. In short, they can always find a way to disguise themselves. On the sea, you can only judge your identity by flags."
An Ning shook his head repeatedly.
In this era, when a fleet goes to sea and wants to communicate, it can only send a liaison ship back, or pass by somewhere to send a message and ask other ships to bring it back. Therefore, the port basically does not know what is happening at sea.
Even if someone comes back and reports that the British navy has intercepted the fleet, you have no evidence.
Unless the Royal Navy is defeated and the Royal Navy ship or the flag on the ship and the commander's saber are captured, then there will be some convincing and diplomats can go to someone to tell the story.
But that is the Royal Navy. At this time, it is still a bit difficult for France to steal the flag of the Royal Navy.
Of course, An Ning is already building iron steamships. When they are put into practical use, they may be able to defeat the Royal Navy, but I don't know how many years it will take.
Therefore, the option of taking the Danube River route does not exist.
Of course, even if the Royal Navy and the Ottomans are really taken care of, there will still be more than one country along the Danube River. To get to Vienna, the capital of Austria, you have to pass through several countries first.
The Danube is famous for flowing through many countries, otherwise it would be called "multi-brained".
An Ning: "If we can't go through the Danube, we can only pile up heavy artillery and attack the city. Let's attack the city with a two-pronged approach. Davout captured Zurich and opened up the channel. We divided the army into two parts. One hundred thousand people were controlled by Napoleon and have not left the city.
I will lead the coalition forces with a desire to fight, 100,000 men, to attack Vienna."
Berthier still seemed a little worried about this plan: "Although the enemy's morale and supplies may not be enough to support them to leave the city and fight with us by then, is it a bit dangerous for so many enemy troops with 100,000 people?
"For the troops attacking Vienna from Zurich, it should be enough to have Davout's main force and strengthen one or two corps. It would be more appropriate for Napoleon to leave more troops to deal with unexpected situations."
An Ning: "We'll talk about it then. Let's contact Davout first. Before that, besiege and attack the city. Remember to ask the country to dismantle the naval heavy artillery and transport it over land."
"If we want to transport naval heavy artillery, I'm afraid we will have to dedicate troops to repair supply roads." Berthier said.
An Ning waved his hand: "You can arrange it. The labor force for repairing the roads can be taken care of by the republican government established in the occupied areas. They can't just enjoy the benefits of liberation, they have to go to work!"
**
In this way, twenty days passed in a stalemate.
This morning, Venice, Italy.
Davout was waiting at his headquarters for a visit from the head of Venice's newly established city council.
From the window of his map room, you can directly see the famous St. Mark's Basilica in Venice.
At this moment, Davout suddenly heard the sound of horse hooves downstairs.
Yes, there is land where you can ride horses in Venice. In the future, the pigeons perching in the square in front of St. Mark's Basilica will still be a famous tourist attraction.
Davout: "Maybe someone from the city council is here."
As he was talking, he was adjusting his military uniform, and then he saw the door open and Massena walking into the room.
"Oh, my friend!" Masséna said, hugging Davout warmly.
While hugging, Davout smelled the fragrance of roses on Massena, and he probably flirted with the beautiful lady he met on the way here.
Davout: "Has the matter in the Kingdom of Sardinia been settled?"
"Yes, it's done, the king was exiled, just like Louis XVII! But the gentlemen of Turin don't seem to be willing to unite with Milan to form a country. Obviously Turin is already using the banknotes issued by your Excellency, but
They just don’t want to integrate.”
Davout shrugged: "This may be a good thing. If Italy is unified, France may have one more powerful enemy."
Massena: "There may be one more powerful ally. Don't be so serious. Although the Italian army's combat effectiveness is very good, it is still different from us. If they betray the Republic, we will just fight back!"
Just as Davout was about to say something, the sound of horse hooves came from downstairs again.
This time the horses' hooves sounded very urgent, as if they were rushing all the way for something urgent.
Then someone shouted from downstairs: "An urgent message from Lord Frost to Davout and Masséna!"
Davout and Massena looked at each other and walked out together.
As soon as he arrived at the door, Davout's chief of staff hurriedly opened the door and came in: "Urgent, General."
Davout took the envelope, tore it open and started reading directly.
After a while he thrust the letter to Masséna.
Massena took the letter and asked, "What's written on it?"
"Let us go north to Zurich and open a road from Vienna over the Alps to France. Your Excellency wants to bypass a series of fortresses on the Danube and go straight to Vienna."
Massena curled his lips: "Why go to Zurich? We have less than 50,000 Austrian troops in front of us. We can penetrate them and go straight to Vienna."
Davout pursed his lips and looked at the map.
Massena continued: "Look, the ultimate goal is to win Vienna, isn't it? Then as long as we win Vienna, what does it matter whether we go to Zurich or not?"
Davout shook his head: "No, you may want to take Vienna yourself. If this is your glory, we have no right to overstep it!"
Masséna refused to give up: "Then write to him and tell him that we think it is better to go straight to Vienna now."
Davout: "No, it takes a month and a half to go back and forth. It takes too much time."
Massena: "In this case, you will lead half of the army to attack Zurich, and I will use half of the army to defeat the enemy in front of me. When I get to the city of Vienna, we will surround Vienna and wait for Your Excellency to come and attack the city again."
Davout looked at Massena: "Can you do it?"
"Let's give it a try. Anyway, the order given to me in the letter is to defend Italy. If I have not defeated the Austrian army, I will rely on the Mantua Fortress to defend it. This does not count as violating your order. When you ask, you will say that we are doing this as a precaution.
Sexual offense, attack before the enemy attacks!"
Davout curled his lips: "In this way, I will leave you an extra 20,000 people and take 30,000 people to attack Zurich. You use 70,000 people to try to break through the current enemy."