Meanwhile, on the outskirts of Genoa, General Melas stood atop a rocky outcrop, his gaze fixed on the city sprawling below. Genoa, the port city they had been besieging since April, presented a formidable challenge. The French forces, under the command of General Massena, were trapped within its walls like a cornered animal, refusing to yield to the relentless assault.
The sun dipped low on the horizon, casting an orange glow over the scene. The sound of cannons firing in the distance echoed through the air, a constant reminder of the stalemate that had gripped the city. General Melas furrowed his brow, his mind grappling with strategies to breach the city's formidable defenses.
"If only we had the British in the Mediterranean, this siege would have been easier," Melas said.
At that moment, he found something odd. If the British don't have naval supremacy in the Mediterranean region and are controlled by the French, then how come the French are not taking advantage of their naval supremacy? They could have sent reinforcements via ships but they aren't doing that.
"Is it because of the French colonies in Africa..?" Melas muttered under his breath. He had been aware of the French domination of Northern Africa after they defeated the Ottoman Empire in Acre and Damascus. To establish order, the soldiers stationed in those regions must be kept supplied with fresh troops and resources. That, in turn, would restrict the movement of the French Navy as they have to prioritize, their navy may be the one dominating the region but they don't have the numbers to fully exploit it.
As General Melas contemplated the French strategy, his aides-de-camp approached him hastily.
"General, I have urgent news!" one of his aides-de-camp shouted, breathless from running up the rocky outcrop to reach General Melas.
Melas turned to face his aides, his brow still furrowed with concern. "What is it? What has happened?" he asked, sensing the urgency in their demeanor.
"Reports have just come in from our scouts," the other aide-de-camp added, trying to catch his breath. "The French Army, under the command of First Consul Napoleon Bonaparte, has crossed the Great St. Bernard Pass and is not heading towards Germany as we expected. They are marching directly towards us, towards Genoa!"
The shock on General Melas's face was evident. This unexpected turn of events caught him completely off guard. His mind raced as he tried to comprehend the implications of Napoleon's change in direction.
"But this can't be true," Melas said, disbelief and concern coloring his voice. "We were certain that Napoleon was going to attack General Kray in Germany. Why would he change his plans and come here?"
His aides exchanged worried glances, equally perplexed by Napoleon's sudden decision. "We don't know, General," one of them replied. "But the reports are coming from multiple sources. It seems certain that Napoleon's army is en route to Genoa."
Melas clenched his teeth. So that's why they are not sending the French fleet to save the French forces stuck in Genoa, because it was not the navy who will help them, but the army.
But it's okay, everything is under control. He calms his nerves down as he strategizes a plan.
Napoleon Bonaparte, the general who single-handedly defeated the Austrians in the War of the First Coalition and conquered General Wurmser and Alvinczi in battle, proved to be a formidable enemy. He adopted a strategic approach, thinking like the French and putting himself in their situation to determine their best course of action.
If Napoleon's plan was to relieve the siege of Genoa, then he would have to come from Turin first.
"Send a message to Feldmarschall-Leutnant Ott to move with his forces to Turin," Melas said decisively. "We need to reinforce our position there immediately. If Napoleon is indeed heading towards Genoa, we must cut them off there."
His aides nodded in acknowledgment and quickly set about relaying the orders to Feldmarschall-Leutnant Ott.
***
June 2, 1800. In the city of Turin, Feldmarschall-Leutnant Ott and his men were fortifying the city's defenses in preparation to meet the French forces commanded by Napoleon. Ott had started the preparations three days earlier, but something felt off. If the French were to relieve Genoa, they should have been in Turin by now.
"Something is wrong," Ott sensed, his instincts as a seasoned military leader alerting him to the unusual circumstances. He had expected the French to arrive at Turin by this time, but there was no sign of their advance.
Gathering his senior officers, Ott held a brief council to discuss the situation. "Have there been any further updates on the movements of Napoleon's forces?" he inquired, searching for any new intelligence that could shed light on the situation.
One of the officers stepped forward, a look of concern on his face. "There have been reports of some skirmishes near the Italian border, but nothing conclusive about Napoleon's main army," he explained.
Ott furrowed his brow, deep in thought. The absence of clear information only added to his unease. "It's unlike Napoleon to delay his advance," he mused. "Send out more scouts and patrols. I want every inch of our borders covered."
As Ott and his officers continued to deliberate, their attention was diverted by the sound of urgent footsteps approaching. A young Austrian messenger burst into the tent, his eyes wide with alarm.
"General Ott, urgent news from Milan!" the messenger exclaimed breathlessly. "The French have captured Milan!"
General Ott's face contorted with anger and frustration upon hearing the devastating news. He slammed his fist against the table, causing the maps and strategical documents to scatter. "Shit!!" he bellowed.
"So they weren't aiming for Genoa yet…they aimed to cut off our supply line," one of the officers exclaimed, realization dawning on him.
General Ott took a deep breath, trying to compose himself. "Yes, it seems Napoleon's plan was to strike at the heart of our operations in Italy," he said, his voice steadier now.
"By capturing Milan, he has effectively disrupted our supply chain and isolated Genoa. Not only that, they have a clear path towards Vienna," Ott continued, his mind working rapidly to assess the situation. "Send a telegraph to General Melas, immediately. Tell them that the French have captured Milan, and we are awaiting orders."
***
Meanwhile, on the same day, in Milan. The local populace of Milan cheered the arrival of their liberator, Napoleon Bonaparte.
He and his army marched through the city's streets, greeted by jubilant crowds waving French flags and showering them with flowers. The people of Milan saw Napoleon as a hero, a savior who had delivered them from the grasp of the Austrians. The French troops, weary from their long march, couldn't help but be uplifted by the warm reception.
Napoleon rode on horseback at the head of his army, his destination, Palazzo Marino. Three years ago, it was at that palace where he declared himself the ruler of the Cisalpine Republic. It also served as his headquarters when he first entered Milan in 1796.
Returning to the place he had once conquered, only to see it retaken by the Austrians, and then reclaiming it once more brought him a sense of nostalgia.
"It just went according to your prediction, Your Excellency," Murat commented. "To think that they would have left this city defenseless."
Weeks before this day, when they were still crossing the Great St. Bernard, Napoleon, and his General Staff convened a meeting about the Austrians' possible reactions.
He informed his General Staff that the Austrians would likely be fixated on the idea of relieving the siege of Genoa. To counter this, the Austrians would probably position their forces in Turin, a city that offered a direct route to Genoa. However, Napoleon understood that their primary objective was to weaken the Austrians' hold on Genoa and force them to raise the siege, compelling them to face him in battle. To achieve this, it was imperative for the French forces to take Milan first, effectively cutting off the Austrian supply line and destabilizing their position in Genoa, which they did.
Now, Napoleon knew that this wasn't going to turn out like the Battle of Marengo that happened in his original world. It would be radically different. First off, General Massena was still holding firm on Genoa and he would expect him to help him defeat the Austrian main forces. He had already come up with a plan on how to defeat the Austrian forces, and he would reveal it to his General Staff once they are inside the Palazzo Marino.
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