Napoleon in 1812 - Chapter 150

With its vast, fertile territory, the largest population in Europe, diverse industriaI resources and skills, France was expanding at a tremendous rate when it met an outstanding leader named Napoleon.

The economic and military growth of France and the expansion of hegemony in the European continent, which had been heard since the end of the Peninsula War, had 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 conglomerates.

Military factories in Manchester and Birmingham operated every day even during peace, making war supplies.

Military professionals with the highest military experience and intelligence gathered at the army headquarters and continued military innovation day and night, preparing strategies, and tactics to destroy Napoleon and France.

The army born from all these factors was Wellington’s corps. It was called ‘the Golden Corps1.

It was truly a crystal in which all the nation’s capabilities were concentrated, and a window of hope to overthrow Napoleon’s rule.

Wellington’s corps showed the power that had been invested in it on the battlefield. It easily defeated troops from the Netherlands and Rhineland, which blocked the front, and advanced to overthrow France.

Red coats advancing with Indian mercenaries shouting ‘God Save the King’ resembled heroes who were going to save their country from crisis and liberate Eu rope.

Some hasty officers were even sure of victory. But they were only falling into Napoleon’s ruse and collapsed helplessly.

Unidentified bombs exploded beneath the ground and the French fired soon after. British soldiers and Indian mercenaries exposed to this overwhelming firepower were devastated and melted away from the ground.

The Golden Corps, which believed it would defeat Napoleon and create a new myth, was now torn apart in a land of death and despair.

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

He judged that if they did not step down at this point, the useless bleeding would be greater. And his judgment was indeed correct. Lieutenant General Lowry Cole saw the faces of the defeated soldiers retreating to the rear. Having had a long career on the battlefield, he could tell at a glance.

They were mentally completely destroyed, After that, it would be difficult for them to show their full ability even if they took care of their body and mind before participating in the battle again. Even Indian mercenaries, who were so valiant and strong, had no time to stand in the face of the primal fear of death.

It would also a task to persuade the mercenary leaders who were saying that they had never heard of this ridiculous weapon and this kind of fighting method.

“Damn it…!”

Lowry Cole’s face was distorted by indescribable misery in the catastrophe.

“The battalions that were in charge of the front line are very exhausted! At this rate, we cannot guarantee the continuation of the operation!”

Starting with Lieutenant General Lowry Cole’s urgent message, who was in charge of the infantry battalions, there were a number of battalion-level defectors who said that they could no longer fight, The Central Command Headquarters was flooded with messages from each subordinate unit requesting to retreat or to be removed from the front and dispatch in the rear.

The British military had not found a way to deal with the unexpected weapons and tactics that broke half of its battlefield infantry.

Looking at an infantry battalion devastated and brutally crushed after advancing, the command issued an empty retreat order and mechanically gave approval for the fleeing troops.

A cold silence was hanging over the headquarters. It was not good. It was really not good. There was a shadow of defeat over them.

Above all, the staff officers who should not be afraid of failure and actively provide advice and direction to the commanders were shrinking.

They were afraid. Afraid that Napoleon would pull out another unexpected card and drive the British army into a corner.

Since even the militant Russian officers were now keeping their mouths shut, Wellesley was more disappointed in the atmosphere of the command than in the defeat of the battle.

“Our enemy, Napoleon, is the most genius commander in human history beyond Alexander the Great and Genghis Khan. Were you expecting not to take this much damage when dealing with him? Unlike the enemies that they (Alexander, Genghis Khan) have faced, we still have the advantage. We will have to overcome the current difficulties with our manpower and spirit.”

In the dark and miserable situation, Arthur Wellesley commanded the corps unwavering and awakened the disheartened staff. He stressed the fact that they had been hit by a blow, but that there was no problem in carrying out the operation.

Under the command of the commander, Wellington’s corps systematically gathered its defeated troops, defended against the enemies’ pursuit, and mobilized its cavalry to cover its vulnerable flanks.

With the quick decision at the scene (Lowry Cole) and the right judgment of Arthur Wellesley, who actively accepted the situation and expanded his path, Wellington’s corps did not fall into a ‘swamp of disorder’, without further damage.

‘The nickname ‘Iron Marshal’ would suit this person, not Louis Nicolas Davout.’

Rowland Hill nodded as he looked at Wellesley, who awakened the command in a calm, tough tone and continued to hope for victory. He realized again that this was the only person who could see victory over Napoleon Bonaparte.

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

Only then could the chiefs of staff at the command headquarters escape from despair and face the reality. Their confidence had dropped significantly, but the defeat of the battle was certainly not a decisive one.

Arthur Wellesley’s response was making them understand it. Not only the British officers but also the proud Russian officers and the uncooperative Swedish officers had been ashamed of their actions, hidden in a shell like a turtle, scared of being hit hard by the enemy.

They became passionately absorbed in their role as ‘advisors’ again. Knowing how to enlighten and lead one’s subordinates without shouting or mentioning military law. This was Arthur Wellesley’s leadership.

Arthur Wellesley raised his head and looked up at Hill, Hill, who was staring at his superior, did not shy away from his eyes and made eye contact for a long time. Wellesley opened his mouth.

“Let’s send a letter to the Russian reserves behind us and the Prussian troops in the Pantin Forest.”

Wellesley’s intention was clear.

“And provide enough rest and food for the soldiers. This will be the end of this battle.”

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

Wellesley’s request for action reached the Prussian command while the Prussian troops occupying the Pantin Forest were detaining prisoners from the Union, reorganizing their units, and erasing the traces of combat.

“…It doesn’t seem to work out as well as we thought. An operation against the monster can never go according to plan,”

The old man who smiled bitterly while smoking his rolled opium cigarette was Gebhard Leberecht von Blucher, the commander-in-chief of the Prussian army. He gave the letter to his staff, Blucher had a bitter smile as he listened to the sighs of the officers.

It was a strategy and tactics that Blucher himself, Wellesley, Gneisenau, Bennigsen, Bagration, and other famous commanders and staff members, who were considered the best in the Coalition, worked all night long.

The Coalition’s commanders said in unison that they could not expect anything better than this. However, it seemed that it did not work this time against the man loved by God.

This was the big framework of the operation to target the Central Army: while the Prussian army suddenly attacked the right wing and occupied the Pantin forest, and the Russians hold the left wing, Wellington’s corps pushed into the center of the wetland and confronted Napoleon directly.

In this process, the most important operational goal was to use topographical and geographical advantages, all kinds of miscellaneous techniques, the Indian mercenaries, and even special weapons to inflict fatal damage on the Central Army and push forward artillery and positions,

Later, the Prussian a rmy on the right, the Russian reserves on the rear, and if possible, the Russian main force, which defeated the left, would be brought to the center at once, completely destroying the Central Army, the main force of the Union.

In other words, according to the plan, the Prussian army would come back to the forefront after Wellington’s corps occupied the front batteries and positions of the Central Army.

In the early days of the skirmish, everything went as expected by the staff. Claude Victor Perrin’s corps left the Central Army to support the left-wing forces under attack by the Russian army.

Now the power of the Central Army had fallen below 80,000. On the other hand, the number of troops hitting them (Wellington’s corps + Russian reserves) was 130,000.

The momentary power gap widened and Arthur Wellesley ordered the attack without hesitation. Even Blucher, who was half-doubtful until he took over the Pantin Forest, clenched his fists and convinced himself of the possibility of victory, and Prussian officers applauded and cheered.

They really thought that the name of the era would soon crash and that the prosperity of their country would be restored. But Napoleon Bonaparte once again proved why he was called the God of War.

With fascinating tactics, subtle, shady schemes and the individual bravery of every soldier, the Central Army eventually blocked Wellington’s corps’ offensive like an iron wall.

On the contrary, the spear blades hidden in the shield pierced the heart of the British army without hesitation. The command of Wellington’s corps was unable to handle the burnout and eventually asked for help and for the revision the operation.

‘It’s a lot of fun to watch these despicable islanders suffer, but…’

Blucher had not forgotten the significance of the alliance, which was more important than this kind of resentment, It was only because of one sense of purpose that he continued his life with his last struggle.

“Prussian soldiers never avoid fighting!”

“Your Excellency, give us your orders!”

Prussian officers showed confidence by puffing out their chests, but Blucher knew their true feelings, Inside the outer skin of bravery and courage, there was a flesh-like tension and pressure hidden,

How many people could mai ntain detachment and composure in this situation where they were going to lead the soldiers to march toward Napoleon’s army? Underneath their masks, the fear of Napoleon that they had learned over time remained strong.

But Blucher, as Wellesley did a little while ago, was a general with charisma and years of experience who could awake frozen officers. He did not utter any cliches about saving his country. It would be a turning point in the history of Europe and the world, Blucher only uttered these words.

“In this fight today…”

Bring down the God of War. And he prayed to God. May his last spark burn meaningfully.

After one battle, a brief state of unrest continued. The British troops stepped back from the battlefield and began to reorganize the heavily worn out units, and the subordinate troops were taking a little time off and taking a light rest.

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

“They are afraid of the arrangements Your Majesty has hidden. As time goes by, they know that the situation is advantageous to us, but they can’t move their feet because of that fear.”

Berthier’s remarks were properly describing the dilemma that the Coalition command was facing. The British, once properly hit back, had become more passive in their characteristic cautious attitude.

Weren’t they stilI sending some light cavalry out there to search around the area, wary of the explosives i n the ground? In fact, not all the explosives had been consumed in the previous engagement.

In any case, it was like giving the French, who were using mounds and trenches as shields, time to adjust and strengthen their defenses.

In the meantime, the commanders of the Central Army had a meaningful time, such as replacing tired artillery, supplying enough ammunition to the battlefield units and the Chasseur Regiment, reorganizing the ranks and redeploying the troops.

Having enough time, Napoleon was also curious about the situation of the Left Army, which was in full swing with the Russian army.

“Arthur Wellesley realized that it is difficult to cross this ridge with just the cards he has now. That’s why he’s spending his time trying to soothe his tired and embarrassed soldiers and replenish his strength. In addition, he’s bringing in a force to disperse our firepower.”

Napoleon did not hear any intelligence or information about it, but he was fully aware of the situation outside the battlefield with only his reasoning ability. The God of War was a master of psychological warfare and also a master of accurate situational judgment.

“The next attack will really be the last one. If only this attack is prevented, it could lead to victory in the Battle of Orime, and even the Great War as a whole.”

It was almost over. The day would come when this bloody war would end and the French tricolor flag would fly high above Europe. In the next 50 years no country would be able to challenge France’s stronghold.

It was exactly two hours after the British offensive was halted under the threat of underground explosives. Signals announcing the Coalition offensive rang out again on the battlefield. Slightly tired of the battle, the French soldiers regained their spirits after a little rest and went back to the front.

Russian and British troops were coming from the front and Prussian troops from the right. Looking at the waves dyed in three colors, the French sons did not lose their fighting spi rit.

It was a display of courage that only true elite troops could exert. Napoleon smiled at the sight.

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