Chapter 416 Prelude to Great War
February 1st, 1822.
In the stately office of Emperor Napoleon at the Palace of Versailles, the atmosphere was tense and expectant. The office, though elegantly furnished, bore the marks of a military command center with maps and documents spread across the desk and walls.
Napoleon sat behind his desk, his expression stern and contemplative. He was reviewing a series of dispatches when Armand briskly entered the room, carrying a new set of documents.
"Your Imperial Majesty," Armand began. "I bring urgent news from the Eastern front."
Napoleon looked up, his keen eyes meeting Armand's. "Report," he commanded, his voice betraying no emotion.
Armand stepped forward, laying the documents on the desk. "The Kingdom of Poland has fallen. Russian forces have successfully captured Warsaw. King Josef Anton Poniatowski has retreated to Berlin, seeking refuge and support from the Germans."
Napoleon's brow furrowed slightly at this news, but he remained composed. "Detail the events leading to the fall," he instructed, indicating the documents.
Armand nodded and began his technical report. "The Russian advance was swift and well-coordinated. After breaking through Polish defenses at the border, they moved rapidly towards Warsaw. Our intelligence suggests that the Russian forces employed a combination of heavy artillery, bomber aircraft, and a substantial number of ground troops, including light tanks and infantry."
He paused, collecting his thoughts. "The Polish Army was weak to begin with as it was in the process of modernizing its state. It would not be surprising news about their fall. However, the fact that they were able to take Warsaw within a day…It's just impressive. The Russians truly are a formidable army."
He then inquired further. "What about the civilian response?"
"The civilian population was largely unprepared for such a rapid advancement. Many fled the city, while others remained, caught in the crossfire. The Russian forces have now established control over the city, and martial law has been declared," Armand continued.
Napoleon nodded slowly, absorbing the information. "And where are our troops?"
"The First Division is expected to cross the western border of Poland in the next three hours."
In this war, the Empire of France mobilized 800,000 soldiers, the Kingdom of Germany 300,000 thousand, the Kingdom of Poland, 200,000 thousand, Kingdom of Italy 150,000 thousand. The Empire of Spain however only sent a flotilla of warships to help the French and Italian Navy in the Mediterranean Sea.
As Armand was reporting, another person entered his office.
"I apologize for the sudden intrusion, Your Imperial Majesty," Talleyrand limply walked in, his face etched with urgency. "But I have significant diplomatic news."
Napoleon, accustomed to Talleyrand's mannerisms, gestured for him to continue.
Talleyrand, taking a moment to compose himself, said, "We have received word from our ambassadors. Britain shows interest in our situation but remains non-committal. They are wary of directly engaging against Russia but are open to providing logistical support. Austria, on the other hand, is cautious. They fear Russian retaliation but have indicated they might offer covert aid."
"Even Britain is helping huh despite what we did to them almost two decades ago."
"Possibly it was the work of His Majesty, Tristan Bonaparte, the Emperor of Spain. His fiance, Shiela Belfast, has a powerful family serving the Parliament of Britain. She may have used her influence to sway their decision," Talleyrand suggested.
"No wonder…what about our enemies? Russian and the Ottoman Empire?"
"Well they are joyous, Your Imperial Majesty. Their morale was boosted after capturing the capital city of the Kingdom of Poland. They might even think they can win this war now," Talleyrand said.
Hearing that, Napoleon couldn't help but scoff softly. "But the Kingdom of Poland didn't even sign an armistice or even a ceasefire with the Russians, right? So how come they are feeling that? Anyways, what about the King of Poland."
"As for that, Your Imperial Majesty, he was quite, how should I put this…disappointed? Or perhaps angry at the outcome. They are blaming us for not providing sufficient support in time," Talleyrand explained.
"Yeah, that one I expect," Napoleon simply shrugged off the Poles' disappointment. "Now what about the plan of a feigned invasion of the North?"
"Grand Admiral, Marshal Murat has tasked the English Channel Fleet of the Imperial French Navy towards Saint Petersburg. Since Minister Talleyrand had reported that the British may be joining the war offensively, we can ask for some of their ships. The moment the Russians saw a huge fleet of warships heading towards the north, there's no doubt the Russians would reallocate some of their forces to defend Saint Petersburg," Armand detailed.
He continued. "Now speaking of the feigned invasion. The Marshals have concocted an invasion in the South."
"Oh, let's hear that," Napoleon leaned in, his curiosity piqued.
"The strategy involves a two-pronged assault. Firstly, we aim to launch an offensive against the Ottoman Empire. Our intelligence indicates that their military is not as robust as the Russian forces, making them a more vulnerable target. By destabilizing the Ottoman front, we can force the Russians to divert resources to assist their ally, thereby weakening their position in the north."
Napoleon nodded, signaling for Armand to continue.
"The plan is to concentrate our forces along the southeastern borders of the Ottoman Empire. The Kingdom of Italy, with support from the French troops, will lead the initial incursion. We aim to rapidly penetrate their defenses and capture key strategic points. This will disrupt their supply lines and communication, causing chaos within their ranks."
"And the secondary phase?" Napoleon inquired.
"Once we have gained substantial ground in the Ottoman territories, we will establish a strong defensive line to hold off any counterattacks. Meanwhile, our forces in the north, bolstered by the German troops, will be prepared to launch a coordinated offensive towards Russia. This will be timed to coincide with the feigned invasion from the north to create maximum confusion and stretch Russian defenses."
"And then?" Napoleon prompted.
Armand detailed further, "After establishing a foothold in the Ottoman territories, we plan to push northward through the Balkans. This approach will allow us to approach Russia from a less defended angle. The goal is to open a new front, forcing the Russians to fight on multiple fronts and thinning their forces."
"And how many soldiers are required for this operation?"
"Approximately three million, Your Imperial Majesty, of course, that includes the coalition forces."
"Well then, the plan sounds good, and I have no problem with it. Tell them they have my permission to proceed with this operation."
"Understood, Your Imperial Majesty."
Follow current nov𝒆ls on freew(𝒆)bnov𝒆l.(c)om