I Am the Crown Prince in France - Chapter 778

Chapter 774 Napoleon’s Intuition

Napoleon saw Victor’s puzzled expression and asked, “Do you remember Marshal Beaulieu’s age?”

“Ah, he seems to be 69 years old.”

“Yes, 69 years old.” Napoleon nodded, “He has fought for more than 50 years and is very experienced.

“If he finds that his front army has not encountered any resistance after entering France, he will definitely become extremely vigilant.

“On the contrary, if we launch a fierce counterattack, he will firmly believe that he can easily occupy Toulon.”

Victor suddenly realized: “Indeed. Victory will urge the Austrians to advance quickly.”

He suddenly thought of the current deployment of the Italian Front and reminded: “Lieutenant Colonel Buvanaba, is our current position too far back?”

Napoleon deployed all the French troops to the west of Nice. This means that the easternmost side of the Toulon Province has no defensive forces-Nice is the largest city east of Toulon, and this is the best place to defend.

Napoleon said: “The deeper the Austrian army goes into Toulon, the longer its front line will be, which will be more conducive to our finding weak points to attack.

“Besides, this will also allow Monaco to pay more military expenses.”

Monaco is a small principality in the southeast of France, located 10 kilometers east of Nice, at the foot of the Alps.

If Austria wants to attack Nice, it must first attack Monaco.

Although the Principality of Monaco is a French protectorate, it still has a great deal of independence. Facing the threat of Austria this time, it will inevitably use all its national strength to resist, and will inevitably be more closely tied to France in the future.

Victor still hesitated: “Lieutenant Colonel Buwanaba, if the Austrians enter Nice, they can go north to Bresse from here. And our army has not set up a defense line north of Toulon…”

“No, you don’t need to worry.” Napoleon said very confidently, “Beaulieu will definitely continue westward and attack the port of Toulon.”

“Can you tell me your basis?”

“Because the British will ask Beaulieu to do this, where our Mediterranean fleet is parked. “Napoleon said, tapping his forehead with his index finger again, “And my intuition.”

“Will this be…”

Napoleon smiled and patted him on the back: “You’d better use this time to urge the Toulouse Corps to prepare winter clothes. Perhaps we will cross the Alps soon. You know, the snow on the top of the mountain has not melted at this time of year.”

…

Eastern Monaco.

Larvoteau town.

After destroying the French sentry tower at the Catibona Pass, the Austrian vanguard Provera Corps was immediately attacked by the “Provence Frontier Guard”.

The Austrians were caught off guard at first and lost dozens of people, but soon under the command of Major General Provera at the front line, they repelled the hundreds of French border guards.

Then Provera, in accordance with the order of Marshal Beaulieu, led by the grenadier battalion, quickly advanced westward until the town of Larvoteau on the border of Monaco, where they met the French army that had reorganized its defense line again.

And, 500 Soldiers of the Monaco Royal Guard.

Provera immediately showed the style of an Austrian general.

On the one hand, he mobilized an infantry regiment to cooperate with the grenadiers to attack the defense positions of the French and Monaco coalition forces, and on the other hand, he sent cavalry to the north of Monte Carlo, the capital of Monaco, and headed straight for the castle of the Grand Duke of Monaco.

The Monaco Guard was indeed in a panic and hurriedly withdrew to Monte Carlo to protect its king.

The 800 French border guards in Larvotto were unable to support themselves. They were defeated by the Austrian grenadiers in less than two hours and fled to Monte Carlo together.

Provera rested in the town for one night and ordered the next day All 5,000 soldiers under his command launched a full-scale attack on Monaco – yesterday afternoon, his army had all passed the Catibona Pass.

In fact, the area of ​​Monaco is about the same size as the city of Nice.

5,000 troops can almost plow its land neatly.

The French and Monaco coalition forces only fired a few shots symbolically and covered the Grand Duke of Monaco’s escape to Nice.

At the same time, Monaco’s diplomats formally requested Paris to send troops for protection.

However, the French army seemed to be defending the Bresse line, and Toulon’s troops were very limited.

It was not until the Provera Corps arrived at the gates of Nice that the French barely mobilized 1 Thousands of people.

San Remo, a city in southwestern Sardinia.

In the headquarters of the Austrian Italian Front, Beaulieu listened to the military report from the front and smiled.

The French did not expect that they would march from the south, and the weak defense of Toulon was enough to prove this.

Provera easily defeated the French defenders and successfully occupied Nice. Now he can use this place as a base to attack the Toulon Fortress.

He looked at the troop movement on the wall and said to the herald: “Order Argenteuil and Vucacevi to speed up the march and must pass the Alps before noon tomorrow.

“Tell them not to let down their guard.

In the correct version of Yiyi!

“Set up camp immediately after entering France and send out cavalry for reconnaissance. After the central army has all passed the mountain pass, continue to advance.”

“Yes, Marshal. “

After the messenger left, Beaulieu thought for a moment and said to the staff officer: “Report the victory to His Majesty the Emperor and say that our army is making good progress in Italy. By the time the news reaches Vienna, Toulon should have been occupied.

“Also urge the British to deliver logistical supplies to the port of La Condamine.

“We need to prepare supplies for the attack on Bresse.”

La Condamine Port is a small port in Monaco.

Five days later.

Provera’s corps left Nice and attacked the town of Cagnes, 11 kilometers to the west.

At the same time, Sebottendorf on the left wing of the Austrian army began to besiege Vence, an important town in the south-central part of Toulon.

Provera put away the telescope, looked back at the marching column, and said to the herald: “Let these lazy guys move faster and try to enter Cagnes tonight to spend the night.”

He had conducted repeated reconnaissance before and confirmed that there were no French troops around Nice. He only needed to plant the flag in the town along the way to complete the occupation.

However, it seems that God has felt that he has given him too many military achievements and needs to be tempered. A cavalryman came to salute him and said, “General, we found the French defense line outside Cagnes, with more than 3,000 people.”

Provera frowned: “Where did this army come from?”

“Looking at the flag, it should be the Montpellier Corps, General.”

Provera nodded. If Montpellier marches quickly, it will arrive in about a week.

He immediately ordered: “The French should be very tired, launch an attack immediately!”

“Yes, General!”

At noon that day, Sebottendorf also encountered thousands of French troops in Vence.

He also gave the order to attack without hesitation.