Chapter 746: The Alpine Standoff
Napoleon's eyes quickly scanned the boldly marked lines at the bottom of his notebook:
Once the army enters Italy, soldiers are strictly forbidden from looting.
All requisitioning of supplies and soldier rewards must be approved by Military Supervisor Major Audolric.
Napoleon frowned.
"This will definitely hurt the soldiers' morale," he muttered in frustration.
But this was Crown Prince Joseph's direct order—so he had no choice but to enforce it.
"I just hope Major Audolric is easy to talk to..."
Unfortunately, he had just heard that Audolric was the cousin of the Crown Prince's personal guard captain—meaning he was probably incorruptible.
Joseph clearly remembered how, in history, Napoleon had stripped Italy bare, looting everything in sight.
As a result, the Italian people despised the French, and when Austria later invaded, they were welcomed as liberators.
It was only thanks to Masséna's desperate three-month defense that France wasn't completely driven out of Italy.
But Joseph was not trying to be a saint.
After all, if France couldn't finance the war from occupied Italy, they'd win the battles but still go bankrupt.
However, there was a right way and a wrong way to extract war profits.
Napoleon's "bandit tactics" had only turned Italy into a future enemy.
That's why Joseph had assigned Audolric to oversee economic operations in the occupied territories.
Napoleon's Late-Night Research
Lucien Bonaparte rushed up to his older brother as he exited headquarters.
"You were in there all day?"
"Yes."
"So you haven't eaten lunch?"
**"The General Staff served some soup and bread at noon. Oh, by the way—I've been appointed Deputy Commander of the Italian Front."
"Really?! By God, that's amazing!"
Lucien was overjoyed, rubbing his hands together excitedly.
"You're the most successful member of the Bonaparte family now!"
He bombarded Napoleon with questions, before looking up at the darkening sky.
"You must be starving! Let's go celebrate with a big dinner—"
Napoleon shot him a stern look.
**"Do you think I can afford to relax?
No. This is only the beginning."**
Lucien gulped.
Napoleon handed him a pass.
"I need to go to the General Staff archives. You go get me some food and bring it there."
"The archives? This late? What for?"
"I need to study Alpine and Savoy terrain maps. I don't have much time to prepare."
Napoleon turned to leave but added one last order:
**"Also, apply for permission to use the semaphore network.
I heard it can deliver messages across France in under an hour.
General Dugommier won't push the army hard enough—I'll have to pressure them myself."**
Lucien blinked in shock before nodding.
"Understood, brother."
One and a Half Months Later – Austrian Headquarters
Eastern Sardinia, Acuì, about 70 kilometers from Milan.
This was the headquarters of the Austro-Sardinian Army.
General Beaulieu scowled at the latest report, then slammed it onto the table, glaring at his staff officer.
"It's only 20 leagues from Milan to Nice—that's just 140 kilometers—and yet after almost two months, two corps are still dragging their feet?!"
The officer lowered his head.
**"General, General Pittoni only received Sardinian supplies at the beginning of the month.
Before that, his corps didn't even have enough artillery shells—"**
"The Sardinians are a bunch of useless cowards!" Beaulieu snapped.
He turned to another officer.
"What about the French? Any movements?"
**"Sir, intelligence from last week reports several French corps moving into Savoy.
Additionally, about 5,000 troops are fortifying positions near Bresse and Toulon."**
Beaulieu's expression eased slightly.
His 30,000-man army was already positioned on the eastern side of the Alps.
Meanwhile, the French response was slow.
This meant he could cross the Alps without facing heavy resistance.
At least, his army wouldn't be forced to camp on the mountainsides, freezing for weeks before an attack.
Even in June, the Alps were still bitterly cold, and long exposure would crush morale.
He immediately summoned his senior officers for a strategy meeting.
By evening, Beaulieu had finalized his orders:
The Provera Corps would cross the Cadibona Pass in two days.
"If you encounter French resistance, push forward aggressively. We must secure enough space for the rest of the army to gather."
The Argenteau and Wukassowich Corps would follow, deploying on either side of the pass.
"Avoid prolonged engagements with the French—your priority is to capture Toulon."
Once Toulon was taken, the British fleet would deliver reinforcements and supplies.The Pittoni Corps would hold the western defenses of Turin.The Seibertendorf Corps would serve as reserves.
Yes—Beaulieu had decided to invade from the south, where the Alps were lower and easier to cross.
Even though this route was farther from Turin, it made supply lines more difficult to manage.
However, if they could seize Toulon, the British Navy would provide logistical support by sea.
Additionally, Beaulieu carefully stationed a defensive force near Turin, in case the French attempted a flanking attack.
His strategy was brilliant.
The French expected the main attack from the north, at Bresse.
But Beaulieu planned to strike from over 100 miles away, along the southern coastal region of the Alps.
Since Toulon was only lightly defended, the French would struggle to send reinforcements in time.
By the time the French realized their mistake, the Austrian army would be deep inside French territory.
Once Toulon fell, Beaulieu could march north toward Grenoble, or west toward Montpellier—both critical strategic targets.
"It's Time for Sardinia to Choose."
After the meeting, Beaulieu called over a staff officer.
**"Tell General Colli to deliver this message to King Amedeo III:
I will not wait for him much longer.
The time has come for Sardinia to make a decision."**
His message was clear:
Sardinia must choose—fight alongside Austria, or be left behind.
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