Chapter 245 Developing Scene in the North Bank Part 1
At nine o'clock on the evening of May 27th, 1801, in London's South Bank, Napoleon was closely overseeing the construction of a pontoon bridge spanning the River Thames. This bridge was of paramount importance because the British had sabotaged the main bridge leading to the North Bank, leaving the pontoon bridge as the sole means of crossing the river.
To ensure the timely completion of the pontoon bridge, Napoleon had issued orders to his Army Corps generals to position sharpshooters along the Thames' banks. Their mission was clear: eliminate any potential threats, be they military or civilian, that could disrupt the construction process.
According to the engineers' estimates, the construction of the pontoon bridge was slated to take at least a full day to complete.
However, Napoleon and his Army weren't solely relying on this bridge. He had dispatched three corps to make their way around the River Thames, near Windsor. The entire journey was expected to take a day. Therefore, when the pontoon bridge was finally finished, they would launch a coordinated attack on London from two different directions.
In the central command tent, Napoleon and his Corps generals were gathered around a large wooden table, illuminated by dim candlelight. Maps and plans were spread across the table's surface.
"I must say, the British are quite persistent in defending their country, unlike Austrians who would immediately surrender when they found out that their capital is vulnerable," Davout commented.
"How many casualties did we suffer in total?" Moreau asked.
"About four thousand men, all of them caused by guerrilla tactics by the British," Bernadotte said with a grimace of pain. "If I were on that bridge, I would be the first French general to die on British soil."
Napoleon turned his attention to Bernadotte, concern in his eyes. "How is your leg?"
Bernadotte winced and shifted in his chair, his broken leg propped up on a makeshift rest. "It's mending, Your Excellency, but I can still command from the rear. Nothing serious."
"Okay, let's look at other developments in Great Britain. So far, we have received news that there is civil unrest throughout Britain. The United Irish Society took the opportunity to stage a revolt in Ireland and has successfully taken over Dublin. And since the war is going badly on the side of the British, anti-war factions are forming in their parliament but we are not sure whether they'll be able to convince the members of the parliament or the king to negotiate with us.
The British Baltic Fleet is locked in a naval battle with the Russian Navy so we won't expect them to come to the English Channel soon. Lastly, the pursuing Navy that blockaded our Atlantic Fleet was sighted on Cherbourg and Admiral Brueys d'Aigalliers commander Franco-Spanish Fleet sailed off to intercept them."
"So France is doing good on all fronts," Bessierres mused. "How about in Paris? Were there any reactions from the people?"
"The people were elated when they received the news that we had arrived in the South Bank of London."
"The wonders of telegraph, they always deliver the news instantly," Marmont chuckled. "Let's hope that if we take London, the British will give up."
"Your Excellency, what is your plan after this?" Berthier asked.
Napoleon hummed aloud, contemplating an answer to that question. What he wanted was for the war to end, return to his family, and secure a long-lasting peace so he could focus all of his efforts on developing and modernizing France, and expanding his influence around the world. As much as possible, he doesn't want to have a second, third, and fourth coalition forming against him.
It's just those.
"What everyone wants, Berthier," Napoleon replied with a glint of hope in his eyes. "To go home. And I haven't mentioned it to anyone yet, but my wife is bearing our third child. So all the more reason to end this war."
Napoleon's generals gasped after hearing that news.
Murat was the first to react. "Congratulations, Your Excellency! As a fellow father, I share your feelings. I also want to return home and be with Caroline and our little boy Achille."
Napoleon nodded appreciatively, and a hint of warmth touched his eyes. "Thank you, Murat. So tomorrow, let's hope that we wrap this up, and take over London—"
*Bang bang bang
Sounds of gunshots erupted from a distance and the Generals snapped their heads towards the source of the sound.
"It's the first…" Davout remarked.
And they heard footsteps, approaching rapidly. It was the unmistakable sound of someone running toward them.
The tent's entrance flapped open, and a disheveled officer burst inside.
Gasping for breath, the officer managed to convey the urgent news. "Your Excellency, there's something you need to see."
Napoleon and his generals exchanged worried glances, their attention now fully focused on the disheveled officer.
"Lead us to it," Napoleon ordered.
The officer, without a moment's delay, guided Napoleon and his generals, except Bernadotte, to the riverbank.
Sharpshooters armed with repeating bolt-action rifles aimed at the civilians on the opposite side of the River Thames, there were also machine guns.
Napoleon saw? Londoners raising white flags and shouting in unison.
"We surrender! We surrender! Please, have mercy!"
Napoleon and his generals exchanged puzzled glances. Well, this was a normal occurrence in war. Not everyone in London supported the decision of their government to continue fighting against the French and simply have peace, but they couldn't be too careful.
"This is a trap, Your Excellency," Davout observed. "The British would have executed them for staging such a surrender."
Napoleon considered Davout's words carefully. The situation was indeed suspicious. The British could potentially use this as a ruse to conduct an underhanded tactic.
"They are dangerously close to the construction of the pontoon bridge," Marmont noted.
Napoleon glanced down at the river, where French engineers paused their work to watch the unfolding scene on the opposite bank.
Then among the crowds of Londoners, Napoleon noticed someone who appeared to be squeezing his way further into the crowd, his one arm for getting the people out of his way, and the other arm was behind his back, as if hiding something.
"See that man there, making his way into the front?" Napoleon said to the nearby sharpshooter.
"I have him on my bead, Your Excellency," the sharpshooter said.
"Well, keep an eye on him. If he does something that seems even the slightest bit suspicious, take him down," Napoleon ordered in a hushed but commanding tone.
That man in attention finally made his way to the front, looking at Napoleon and then at the engineers down the River Thames. He moved his hidden arm suddenly, and Napoleon saw he was holding an explosive device.
Napoleon's eyes widened, his instincts were right. "Take him down!"
The sharpshooter pulled the trigger and the suspicious man dropped to the ground, the explosive device falling from his hand and harmlessly splashing into the river.
"This call for surrender is a ruse!" Bessieres said. "Your Excellency, you have to shoot the civilians."
"Your Excellency, if you are to shoot them down, holding London tomorrow would be difficult. You don't want the civilians to hate you for slaughtering the population," Murat said.
"But they are enemies, Murat!" Bessieres countered. "Who knows, there might be a lot of them behind those lines."
"Murat is right," Napoleon cut their argument. "We can't just kill civilians. If we want the occupation to succeed, we have to show mercy on them. Tell the Londoners to get away from the river. If they don't leave, then they are considered an enemy and must be shot down."
"Get away from the river!" the French officers began shouting at Londoners. "I repeat, get away from the bridge. If you don't leave, we will consider you as an enemy combatant and you will be shot down. This is your last warning."
To emphasize they were serious, one of the French officers fired a pistol musket in the air, and the sound echoed ominously over the River Thames.
The Londoners began to slowly back away from the river. Families clung to each other, children were carried by their parents, and elderly citizens moved at a slow but determined pace.
"Well, some of the civilians were genuine about ending the war, so there's a huge chance that whoever is in charge of the defense will lose control," Napoleon said.
Visit freewe𝑏n(o)vel.𝑐𝘰𝑚 for the best novel reading experience