Napoleon in 1812 - Chapter 150

Napoleon in 1812 chapter 150
150

Battle to mark a new era – 6

France, which had a wide and fertile territory, Europe’s largest population, diverse industrial resources, and talented people from a class, was expanding at a tremendous rate when it met an outstanding leader named Napoleon.

France’s economic and military growth since the end of the Peninsular War and the expansion of hegemony in continental Europe made Britain feel a tremendous sense of crisis. This sense of crisis soon led to an active and aggressive investment in the army.

The royal family and the administration raised money by issuing huge amounts of bonds to London’s financial tycoons.

The munitions factories in Manchester and Birmingham were operating non-stop even during the truce to extract war supplies.

Military experts with the best military experience and intelligence gathered at the Army Headquarters to develop strategies, tactics, and doctrines to defeat Napoleon and France day and night, and continued military innovation.

When all these factors were added, the army that was born was the Wellington Corps. The supremacists used the expression ‘a corps clad in gold’ to them.

It is truly the crystallization of all national capabilities and a window of hope to overthrow the Napoleonic system.

The Wellington Corps clearly demonstrated the power they invested in on the battlefield. He raises the banner of overthrowing France by easily defeating the troops from the Netherlands and Rhineland that stand in the way.

The red coats marching along with the Indian mercenaries shouting ‘God Save the King’ resembled the majesty of the heroes who would save their country from crisis and liberate Europe.

Some hasty officers were even convinced of victory. Now, they fell into Napoleon’s scheme and collapsed helplessly.

An unidentified bomb detonated under the ground and the subsequent French salvo. The British and Indian mercenaries exposed to this overwhelming firepower received a devastating blow and melted away from the ground.

The army of gold, believed to have defeated Napoleon and created a new myth, was now torn apart, struggling in the land of death and despair.

Lieutenant General Lowry Cole, the division commander of the line unit, who was watching all these scenes vividly from the front, immediately issued an order to retreat without permission from the commander.

If you don’t step back at this point, you’ve decided that the unproductive bleeding will get bigger. And this judgment was ultimately correct. Lieutenant Colonel Lowry Cole checked the faces of the defeated soldiers retreating to the rear. Having built a long career on the battlefield, he was recognizable at a glance.

They were completely broken mentally. After that, it will be difficult to show off your full skills even if you regain your body and mind and rejoin the battle.

Even the mercenaries of India, who were so brave and strong, could not afford to stand in the face of the primal fear of death.

It was also a task to convince the mercenary leaders that they had never heard of such a nonsensical weapon and this kind of fighting method, and that they would not go into battle.

“Damn it…!”

In the midst of the catastrophe, Lowry Cole’s face was distorted by an indescribable wretchedness.

===

“The consumption of the battalions that were in charge of the front line is very high! At this rate, there is no guarantee that the operation will continue in the future!”

Starting with the urgent message of Lieutenant General Lowry Cole, who was commanding the infantry battalions in the front line, there were a series of defectors from regiments and battalions who said they could not fight anymore.

The central command headquarters was flooded with complaints from each subordinate unit urging them to retreat, unable to fight, or requesting dispatch to the rear.

The British staff could not find any way to cope with the fighting using unimaginable weapons and tactics that were half way out of line infantry.

In the scene where the infantry battalions advancing with great force were devastated by devastating blows, the command gave an empty order to retreat and mechanically abused approval for the fleeing units.

“……”

A chilling silence pervades the commanding team. Not good. Not very good. The shadow of defeat was covering this place.

Above all, the staff officers who were not afraid of failure and should actively provide advice and direction to the commanders were shrinking. are afraid I was afraid that Napoleon would draw another unexpected hand and put the British army in a corner.

Wellesley was more dismayed by this command’s mood than the defeat of the battle, as the warlike Russian officers were now watching and keeping their mouths shut.

“Our enemy, Napoleon, surpasses Alexander the Great and Genghis Khan as the most genius commander in human history.

You mean you didn’t take this much damage to deal with him like that? Unlike the enemies they (Alexander, Genghis Khan) have faced, we still have an advantage. We will have to overcome the current difficulties with manpower and spirit.”

Arthur Wellesley commanded corps unwaveringly in the dark and disastrous circumstances, and even awakened dismayed staff. He was struck by a blow, but emphasized the fact that there was no problem in carrying out the operation.

Under the command of the commander, the Wellington Corps systematically repulsed the defeated units, defended against the pursuit of the enemy, and mobilized flank cavalry to cover the weak flanks.

With the quick decision on the field (Lowry Cole) and the right judgment of Arthur Wellesley, who actively accepted it and broadened the avenue, the Wellington Corps was able to avoid falling into the ‘swamp of disorder’ without taking any more damage.

The nickname ‘Enemies of Steel’ would be appropriate for this person, not Louis Nicolas Davout.’

Roland Hill nodded as he looked at Wellesley, who, in a calm and hard tone, awakened the leadership and continued his hopes for victory.

I realized again that this man was the only person who could see victory over Napoleon Bonaparte.

“The best respect for the dead soldiers is to cross that bloody ridge and focus on the end of the operation. I hope that you will engage in the future operation with the determination to destroy your whole body.”

It was only then that the staff officers at the command center were able to get out of despair and face reality. Although the blow of conversion was in vain, the defeat of the battle was certainly not a definitive situation.

Arthur Wellesley’s response was in the process of making them understandable. Not only the officers of the British Army, but also the proud Russian officers and the uncooperative Swedish officers.

He was ashamed of his actions, hiding in his carapace like a frightened Zara that was hit hard by the enemy.

They again became passionately engrossed in their role as “staff.” A way to awaken and lead subordinates on their own without yelling or mentioning military law. This was Arthur Wellesley’s leadership.

Arthur Wellesley lifted his head and looked at Hill. Hill, who had been staring at his superiors, did not avert his gaze and looked into each other’s eyes for a long time. Wellesley opened her mouth.

“Let’s send a letter to the Russian auxiliaries behind us and the Prussians in the Fantine Forest.”

Wellesley’s intentions were clear.

“And give the soldiers enough rest and meals. The battle starts now.”

He believed in the possibility of reversal, and made everyone here believe as well.

===

The operation request from Wellesley reached the Prussian command post when the Prussian army, which had occupied the Fantine Forest, detained Allied prisoners of war, reorganized their units, and erased the traces of the battle.

“… things don’t seem to be going as well as you think. Hagisa, against that monster, never worked as planned.”

The old man smiling bitterly as he smoked a tobacco made from rolled opium was Gebhard Leberecht von Blucher, commander-in-chief of the Prussian army. He had the letters sent to him return to his staff. Hearing the sighs of the officers, Blucher smiled dryly.

It was a strategy and tactics that Blücher himself, Wellesley, Gneisenau, Benihessen, Bagration, and other famous commanders and staffs, who were called the best in the Allied Forces, stayed up all night.

“You can’t expect anything better than this,” said the leaders of the Allied Forces, unanimously. However, it seems that this time also did not work for a man who was loved by God.

The main framework of the operation to attack the Army Group Center was as follows. While the Prussians attack Army Group Right by surprise and occupy the Fantine Forest, while the Russian Army holds Army Group Left, the Wellington Corps pushes into the center of the swamp and confronts Napoleon directly.

In this process, the most important operational goal is to inflict fatal damage on the Army Group Center and push the forward batteries and positions by mobilizing tactics using terrain and features, all kinds of miscellaneous techniques, and even Indian mercenaries and special weapons.

After that, the Prussian army on the right flank, the Russian aid force in the rear, and, if possible, the main Russian army that repulsed the Army Group Left, all attacked the center at once to completely annihilate the Army Group Center, the main force of the Allied forces.

In other words, according to this operational plan, the time when the Prussians would again go to the front was after the Wellington Corps had captured the forward batteries and positions of Army Group Center.

At the beginning of the engagement, everything went as expected by the staff. Claude Victor Farrin’s corps broke out of Army Group Center and went out to support Army Group Left, which was attacked by Russian forces.

Now, the power of Army Group Center has dropped below 80,000. On the other hand, the number of corps that attacked them (Wellington Corps + Russian aid forces) was 130,000.

The gap between instantaneous power and firepower widened greatly, and Arthur Wellesley ordered the attack without hesitation. Even Blücher, who was skeptical until they captured the Fantine Forest, clenched his fists and was convinced of the possibility of victory, and the Prussian officers applauded and cheered.

Now, I really thought that the day was not far when the name of the era would be downgraded and the prosperity of the country would be restored. However, Napoleon Bonaparte had to prove once again why he was called the god of war.

With tactics close to novelty, cunning and sneaky tactics, and the bravery of each of them, in the end, Army Group Center was able to block the attack of the Wellington Corps like an iron wall.

Rather, the spear blade hidden in the shield relentlessly pierced the depths of the British army. The command of the Wellington Corps could not handle the wear and tear, and in the end, it came to ask for help and revision of the operation.

‘It would be a lot of fun to watch these ugly island nations suffer, but… .’

It has not forgotten the significance of the alliance, which is a more important value. It was only because of a sense of purpose that Blücher continued his life with the last effort.

“Prussian soldiers never avoid fighting!”

“Sir Count, give the order!”

The Prussian officers showed confidence by beating their chests, but Blucher saw their sincerity. A sense of tension and pressure is hidden inside the outer skin of courage and courage.

How many people will be able to maintain detachment and composure in this situation where they will lead the march towards the army commanded by Napoleon? In their mask, the fear learned by Napoleon remained thick.

However, Blucher was a general with the charisma and age enough to awaken frozen officers, just like Wellesley before him.

He did not spit out such clichés as to save the country. It will be a turning point separating European and world history. He did not even speak of such an unfamiliar sound. Blucher only uttered two words.

“In this fight today…”

Destroys the god of war. Then I pray to God. May his last flame burn meaningfully.

===

After one battle, a brief state of unrest continued. The British army withdrew from the battlefield and started the reorganization of the units with high wear and tear, and the subordinate units were taking a short rest after loosening their armaments a little.

Upon hearing the report of the enemy’s movements, Napoleon wrote a letter to Karl Ludwig and gave the French army a short rest. With a distance of about 2 km between them, the two armies stopped fighting and started observing each other.

“They are afraid of the arrangement your Majesty has hidden. They must know that as time goes on, the situation will be more favorable to the allies, but they are unable to take their feet off of that fear.”

Berthier’s remarks also punctuated the dilemma faced by the Allied Command. The British army, once properly hit with a counterattack, had a more passive attitude.

Aren’t you still repeating the task of releasing some light cavalry and exploring the surroundings while being alert for explosive bombs in the ground? In fact, the explosive rounds weren’t all consumed in the previous engagement.

In any case, this was like giving the French army, who had used ridges and trenches as shields, time to adjust and strengthen their defensive posture.

In the meantime, the commanders of Army Group Center had a meaningful time, changing exhausted artillery units, supplying sufficient ammunition to the front line units and the Shasseur regiment, and regrouping and redeploying units.

Having had enough time, Napoleon also wondered about the situation and news of the battlefield of the Army Group Left, which was in full swing with the Russian army.

“Arthur Wellesley realized that it would be difficult to cross this ridge with just the hand he had now. So, for now, he is spending time to comfort the exhausted and bewildered soldiers and replenish their power. In addition, he summons an ally to disperse our firepower. .”

Napoleon had not heard of any intelligence or information about this, but he was able to see through the situation outside the battlefield with only his reasoning ability. The god of war was a master of psychological warfare and was also a master of accurate situational judgment.

“The next attack is really the last. If we only block this attack, we will be able to bring victory to the Battle of Orime and even the entire Great War.”

It’s almost over. The day will come when the bloody war will end and the French tricolor will fly high above Europe. In the next 50 years, no country will be able to challenge the fortress of France.

Exactly two hours had passed since the British offensive was halted by the threat of an underground bomb. The signal of the Allied offensive resounded across the battlefield. The French soldiers, slightly weary from the battle, regained their vigor after a brief rest and returned to the front lines.

Russian and British troops coming in from the front, and Prussian troops approaching from the right. While looking at the waves dyed in three colors, the French Sons did not lose their fighting spirit.

It is a deployment and courage that only the true elite can demonstrate. Napoleon looked at him and smiled.

“It’s time to put an end to their last effort.”

Napoleon in 1812 chapter 150