Napoleon arrived in Paris two hours later, the city teeming with activity and the streets filled with the bustling of everyday life. From the window of the carriage, he observed the French troops of the Army of Reserve assembling outside the imposing Tuileries Palace, organized and disciplined.
The horse-drawn carriage pulled up in front of the Tuileries Palace, and General Bessieres dismounted his horse to open the door. With a nod of acknowledgment, Napoleon stepped out onto the cobblestones, ready to assume his role as the leader of the army.
The moment his foot set on the cobblestones, Minister of War Berthier approached with a confident stride.
"Your Excellency," Berthier greeted with a respectful salute. "Welcome back to Paris."
Napoleon returned the salute and then glanced around his surroundings.
"I assume that all troops of the Army of the Reserves are present?"
"Yes, Your Excellency," Berthier confirmed. "Sixty thousand troops are now assembled and awaiting your command. They stand ready to embark on the critical campaign as directed."
Napoleon nodded in satisfaction. "Good. But before everything else, where is General Moreau?"
"He is in the drawing room of the Tuileries Palace, Your Excellency," Berthier answered.
"I want you to escort me to him," Napoleon ordered.
Without hesitation, Berthier led Napoleon through the corridors of the Tuileries Palace towards the drawing room where General Moreau awaited.
Upon reaching the drawing room, the door opened to reveal General Moreau, deep in conversation with some of his aides-de-camp. His stern expression softened as he caught sight of Napoleon, and he immediately stood to attention.
"Your Excellency," Moreau greeted with a salute, followed by his aides-de-camp, who also saluted in respect to their commanding officers.
Napoleon returned the gesture, appreciating the display of military discipline and respect.
"At ease," Napoleon said, signaling for the officers to relax from their formal stances. "General Moreau, can I speak with you privately?"
Berthier, who was standing next to Napoleon, beckoned Moreau's aides-de-camp to give them some privacy, and they exited the drawing room, leaving Napoleon and General Moreau alone.
"General Moreau, I'll make this brief. Your help during the 18th of Brumaire made me what I am today, the First Consul of France. As a reward, I will make you the Commander of the Army of the Rhine, where you will face General Kray and the Austrian forces," Napoleon declared.
General Moreau's eyes widened with surprise.
"Your Excellency, I am deeply honored and grateful for this appointment," General Moreau replied. "I shall carry out my duties with the utmost dedication and strive to bring glory to France."
"I have no doubt about that," Napoleon said, his expression filled with confidence. "I'm sure that you will not fail France again."
General Moreau's gratitude and determination shone through as he met Napoleon's unwavering gaze. The weight of responsibility was evident in his eyes, but he knew he was ready for the challenge that lay ahead.
"Your faith in me means a great deal, Your Excellency," General Moreau said steadily. "I will not disappoint you, and I will not disappoint France."
"I know you won't," Napoleon replied, offering a reassuring smile. "Now, I shall take my leave as I have an army to command."
"The Army of the Reserve was it? Your intention was to force the Austrians to raise the siege of Genoa," Moreau said.
"Correct," Napoleon confirmed. "You will cross the Rhine and engage Kray in Germany, which I hope would make them the coalition leaders to think that I would attack Germany."
"Very well, Your Excellency. Good luck on your campaign," Moreau said.
"And to you as well, General," Napoleon said, extending his hand for a firm handshake. "May our victories bring glory to France."
General Moreau clasped Napoleon's hand firmly. "Indeed, Your Excellency. We shall do our utmost to ensure success on both fronts."
With that, Napoleon turned to leave the drawing room. Outside, Berthier was waiting.
"What's our transport plan, Berthier?" Napoleon asked.
"We will take the train to Dijon, which is two hundred and thirty kilometers southeast of Great St. Bernard Pass," Berthier said. "From there, we will proceed to Geneva and then cross the Great St. Bernard Pass into Italy. The pass is a vital route that will lead us to Genoa."
"We?" Napoleon tilted his head as he glanced at Berthier. "What do you mean by that?"
"Your Excellency, I haven't told you this yet but I want to join this campaign," Berthier said.
"But you are my Minister of War…" Napoleon's eyebrows rose in surprise. He hadn't expected Berthier to express a desire to join the campaign in the field.
"Berthier, you hold a critical position here in Paris. Your expertise is essential to coordinating our operations and ensuring that our supply lines are secured," Napoleon said, trying to dissuade his Minister.
"And I can do that in the field, Your Excellency. I was the one who organized our supply lines when we were in Italy and Egypt right?"
Napoleon considered Berthier's words. He couldn't deny that Berthier had been instrumental in organizing supply lines during their previous campaigns. His skills as a logistician and administrator were unmatched, and his presence in the field could indeed prove valuable.
"Very well, Berthier," Napoleon conceded with a nod. "If you believe you can manage our logistics effectively while being on the campaign, then I won't stand in your way."
A sense of excitement filled Berthier's eyes as he thanked Napoleon for the opportunity.
"I assure you, Your Excellency, I will not let you down," Berthier said with conviction.
Outside the Tuileries Palace, Napoleon walked towards his carriage. General Bessierres, opened the door for him with a bow of his head. Napoleon climbed into the carriage, followed by Berthier.
Bessierres closed the door and mounted his horse to lead the procession. As the carriage began its journey towards the train station, Napoleon leaned back against the plush seat and relaxed himself.
***
It took almost six hours for all the troops of the Army of the Reserve to get to Dijon by a steam locomotive. Napoleon exited his first-class cabin and stepped onto the platform of the Dijon train station. The soldiers were already disembarking from the various carriages with an air of camaraderie.
The locals of Dijon were delighted to see their First Consul and tried to approach him. But his elite guards under the command of Bessierres immediately formed a protective line around Napoleon to maintain order and ensure his safety. As the people of Dijon respectfully kept their distance, a woman dressed in a traditional Burgundian outfit approached the protective line. In her hands, she carried a beautifully adorned basket filled with freshly baked gingerbread and a bottle of the finest local wine.
"Your Excellency," the woman said with a warm smile, holding out the basket as a token of goodwill. "Welcome to Dijon. We are honored to have you and your brave soldiers here."
Napoleon's stern expression softened as he acknowledged the woman's gesture. He recognized the significance of such a gift, a symbol of hospitality and support from the local populace. With a nod of appreciation, he accepted the basket from her hands.
"Thank you, Mademoiselle," Napoleon said and then handed it over to Bessierres.
It took another six hours for the French soldiers to get ready to march towards Great St. Bernard Pass. The streets of Dijon were lined with well-wishers bidding farewell to the soldiers and their esteemed leader, Napoleon.
As the soldiers began their march, the sound of their boots hitting the cobbled streets echoed through the city. The people of Dijon waved their flags and cheered, expressing their support and encouragement. Napoleon, atop his horse, acknowledged the crowd with a nod and a wave.
This was it, the battle that will end the campaign completely in Italy has now begun.
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