Chapter 44: The Imperfect Surround (Part 1)

On the afternoon of October 9, Xiao Jie returned to the temporary command of Etlingen under the protection of Bernardot's guards. This was also what Napoleon specifically ordered to ensure Xiao Jie's safety, and immediately sent him back to the command after the Battle of Nuremberg. Benardot led his army to continue southward, preparing to attack Ingolstadt with Marshal Sirte's Seventh Corps. Prince Mura's cavalry army would go forward to Munich and harass the garrison there, so that they could not support the Grand Duke Ferdinand to ensure the smooth completion of Napoleon's second combat plan.

When he walked into the command center, Xiao Jie saw Napoleon standing in front of the map and frowned and thought. Xiao Jie walked up to him and said, "Your Majesty, I'm back."

Napoleon heard the voice, looked up and saw that it was Xiao Jie, so he smiled on his face and said, "Oh, dear little Andresey, you are back. Do you know? I have missed me so much these days. By the way, your father doesn't know how you went to the battlefield. If I hadn't stopped you, I would have sent someone to catch you back. How would you feel about the battlefield?"

Xiao Jie smiled bitterly and said, "It's okay. It's too bloody. There, human life is so fragile. However, only men who have experienced life on the battlefield can be considered real men."

Napoleon patted Xiao Jie on the shoulder and said, "I am very happy that you have such a feeling. This is already very good for those who have been on the battlefield for the first time. You must remember that you are the most outstanding descendant of our Bonaparte family, so the battlefield is also your only destination in the future. I hope you can do better than me."

Xiao Jie nodded and said, "Don't worry, uncle, I will definitely work hard." Then he took out the battle report that Bernadot asked him to bring back by the way, and said, "This is the battle report of this battle that Marshal Benadot asked me to bring back. Please check it out."

Napoleon took the battle report and read it. Although the correspondents had already sent back the news of victory, there was no detailed or accurate battle report after all.

"In this battle, our troops took a total of two days to defeat the Austrian Keenmair army. In the morning of October, we launched a general attack, killing and capturing more than 30,000 enemies. But unfortunately, the enemy commander Keenmair finally led some of the remaining soldiers to escape." After reading the battle report, Napoleon nodded. Overall, it was still good. The more than 30,000 people killed and captured can be regarded as the elite troops of the Austrian army. If these troops were lost, the Austrian army was equivalent to having one arm cut off. As for Keenmair who escaped, it was a bit regretful that he did not catch him, but he might feel good when he returned to Austria. After losing so many elite troops, the Austrian Emperor would not let him go.

When the First Legion fought fiercely with the Austrian army in Nuremberg, Napoleon's second inaction began. On October 6, Marshal Davu's guards captured Ahren, who was only 5,000 troops garrisoned by Napoleon, and sent an army of about 8,000 to continue southward and advance towards Hedenheim. Marshal Malmon's second legion also successfully captured Helbron, and the front vanguard troops were less than ten kilometers away from the gateway of Stuttgart Ludwigssiburg. Marshal Lans' third legion also captured Karlsruhe and has arrived at the Pforts Sea.

M, had launched a fierce attack, and more than half of the 20,000 defenders in Pforzheim were killed or injured under the fierce attack of the French army. I believe that it will take long to occupy it. Then we advance towards Stuttgart. Marshal Rei's Sixth Corps and Marshal Rana's Fifth Corps are also advancing towards Stuttgart, but their distance is still a bit far. According to the plan, by October 10, the French army will concentrate five legions, a total of 200,000 people to launch an attack on more than 100,000 Austrian troops from Stuttgart to Ulm, and strive to wipe out the enemy with superior forces.

On the evening of October 8, in a military camp outside Ulm.

Ferdinand looked at the sky with some annoyance. This afternoon, his adjutant brought him bad news. Keenmael's stupid pig was defeated and beaten by the French and lost more than 30,000 elite troops. Now he ran away to Munich like a betrayal dog. He opened the door of Austria completely to the French. "Your Majesty the Emperor should hang him." Ferdinand thought viciously. Although he knew that it was not entirely Keenmael's fault, it was inevitable that his army would fail to fight against the elite French army, but because Keenmael was not in the same way as him, he deliberately believed that the failure was entirely caused by Keenmael's incompetence.

Another piece of news that made him very upset was that the five French legions were coming and rushed towards them. It was about to form an encirclement against them. In particular, his old partner, General Mike, the chief of staff of the Austrian army, gathered in Stuttgart, and except for his south, the other three directions were surrounded by the French. There was also a small army of about 8,000 people who had reached the banks of the Danube. It was reported that they were collecting ships. It seemed that they were preparing to cross the river and join the cavalry legion of Mura who had been wandering between Augsburg and Munich, and blocked their eastward road. If they were to succeed, they would probably be surrounded by the French like Mike.

The enemy's intention is now very obvious, that is, to completely eat up the last 150,000 elite troops in Austria in his hands and Mike. If their intentions succeed, Austria may not have the strength to compete with France.

"I will definitely not let the French succeed." Ferdinand said firmly. But how can we stop the French plan? This made him difficult again. If the French fight hard, they have no chance of winning, and they will even throw all their troops here. But if they retreat like this, he is very unwilling to accept it. His greatest wish in his life is to defeat Napoleon. What is the difference between retreating like this and escaping? He is the Grand Duke of Austria, the younger brother of His Majesty the Emperor, and the marshal of the Austrian army. If he escapes, he will undoubtedly smear the royal face and smear Austria. He is a person who values ​​reputation very much. Even if he is asked to die, he will not do anything that damages his reputation.

General Mike had sent people to ask about his decision many times, whether to fight or retreat, so that he would make a decision. Taking a deep breath, Ferdinand finally made a decision after a difficult struggle between heaven and man. He said to his adjutant: "Record my order: after dawn tomorrow, let Lieutenant General Kleck lead 20,000 troops to Augsburg, so that he must guard the passage from Ulm to Augsburg. Tell General Mike to prepare for battle, and we will fight to the death with the French army. Order Lieutenant General Klaus to lead 10,000 people to Gepinggen to ensure the smooth connection between our army and General Mike. In addition, all the troops of our army have entered the state of combat and are ready to support General Mike at any time."
Chapter completed!