The Fox of France

Chapter 162: Negotiations

Murat, leading his cavalry, pursued the Austrian cavalry relentlessly until they reached the vicinity of an Austrian redoubt. The cannons on the redoubt opened fire fiercely, forcing Murat to halt the pursuit.

Murat and his cavalry withdrew out of range of the redoubt's cannons. They took a moment to regroup and display their prowess before turning their attention to catching up with Napoleon's main force.

When he caught up with Napoleon, Murat, with an air of self-importance, recounted the recent battle to him in detail.

"Ah, Murat, why do you persist in such thoughtless actions?" Napoleon remarked. "Why didn't you consider escaping first to draw them into pursuit? It would be easier to control the distance and engage in ranged combat. In the pursuit, they would become more zealous and less aware of their losses. By the time they realized, their casualties would be significant, and they'd have to retreat. This way, not only are they slower, but you could catch up and eliminate even more, then continue pursuing, minimizing your losses while increasing theirs. Isn't that better? You, my friend, really..."

Napoleon had initially thought about using a comment like "too young, too naive" on Murat, but then he remembered that Murat was a few years older than himself, so he bit his tongue.

Although Murat's performance in the battle wasn't as flawless as Napoleon had hoped, the fact that two hundred French cavalry had defeated five times their number of Austrian cavalry still left the Austrians highly unnerved.

Under Archduke Charles's orders, the Austrian cavalry set out again to search for Napoleon's main force. This time, they thoroughly dispersed their cavalry, with ten men in each squad, to search. They were instructed not to initiate attacks unless they encountered isolated French cavalrymen. When the French cavalry showed aggression, the Austrians were allowed to withdraw at their discretion.

The information received by the Austrians indicated that Napoleon's main force had not entered any cities but had rapidly taken control of vast stretches of the countryside. They obtained plentiful supplies in those areas and gathered the villagers to educate them on revolutionary principles.

Archduke Charles knew that he couldn't allow the French to continue this chaos, as any area visited by the French would likely become a hotbed of rebellion. However, he was wary of a direct confrontation with the French army. Luckily, the Austrians had a clear numerical advantage in cavalry. They decided to use this advantage to attack the scattered French forces and the locals who supported them.

As a result, both sides engaged in a series of small-scale battles continuously. Each side claimed victory in these skirmishes, depending on their perspective.

According to the French, they had successfully repelled Austrian forces in most battles and achieved favorable exchange rates. On the other hand, the Austrians emphasized their ability to rapidly concentrate their forces and encircle French troops at a numerical disadvantage. Thus, they claimed more victories.

Both claims had some truth to them. The French had a clear advantage in weaponry and, thus, an overall advantage in the exchanges. Nevertheless, in terms of tactics, the Austrian cavalry's ability to rapidly concentrate superior forces was an advantage. Both sides suffered losses during these skirmishes, which reflected in their subsequent actions.

The French began constructing relatively simple fortifications in the manors they occupied. They demolished the nobility's houses and used the materials to build two to three-story circular fortifications that resembled watchtowers. At the top of the fortifications, they added signal fires. The French took this defensive measure after experiencing some losses in skirmishes.

The Austrians changed their narrative. They now focused on eliminating rebels as well as invaders. They argued that if they couldn't defeat the invaders, how could they eliminate the so-called "rebels"?

After some time, both sides had established an operational pattern. French and "rebel" observers were placed on elevated positions to signal any movement. Upon receiving a warning, small groups of French soldiers and even local peasants, regardless of their "rebel" status, would take cover in the fortifications. The French cavalry also maintained a state of alert, ready to provide support.

Initially, the warning signals were simple and could only indicate the presence of Austrian troops, without detailing their direction or numbers. However, the warning system rapidly improved. More "rebels" joined, using horses to transmit messages between various manors. As a result, Austrian attacks became increasingly challenging and prone to failure.

In the process, the Austrians learned about the secrets of French weaponry. They captured Minie rifles and revolvers during previous skirmishes. While manufacturing these weapons in large quantities was not an immediate possibility, it was a significant discovery.

While Napoleon stirred up the Austrian countryside, General Joubert led the Northern Army in a fresh offensive against the Austrians and the beleaguered Prussians. With new rifles and tactics, Joubert achieved a series of victories, capturing the entire Rhine region.

Although the Austrians were trying to produce new weapons quickly, their recent defeat in the Rhine region and their growing concerns about the expanding territories controlled by Napoleon made them reconsider. They decided to reach out to France for peace once again.

This time, the Austrians agreed to France's control over Lombardy and the Rhine region. They asked only for Napoleon to withdraw from Austrian territory as quickly as possible.

However, Napoleon wasn't satisfied and demanded additional compensation. "How can I abandon my Austrian brethren?" he argued. "So... they must pay."

The negotiation over the price was heated, but eventually, both sides reached an agreement. The Austrians not only gave up the territories they had already lost but also paid France a compensation of ten million francs. Napoleon grumbled, "For a nation as vast as Austria, they only managed to squeeze out so little. Compared to the riches of the Papal States, the Emperor is truly stingy."

Such a price was equivalent to selling his own brethren, how could Napoleon agree? However, as a soldier, he had to obey orders, and so, he reluctantly prepared to depart from Austrian soil.

During this time, Napoleon continued to meet with representatives of the peasants in his controlled regions. He assured them that, upon his departure, he would leave a portion of the weaponry with them. He had already taught them how to use various weapons.

"My brethren, I must leave you now. Once we depart, the nobles will surely attempt to reclaim what was lost. They will desire to reclaim their possessions and may even be more relentless. However, as long as you hold a weapon in your hand, they cannot oppress you as they did before.

My brethren, remember all that we have taught you and hold on to the weapons we leave behind.

In the future, when the nobles see you armed, they will approach you with a friendly smile, reduce your taxes, and act as if they are your friends. But my brethren, remember, it's not because they have grown kinder or genuinely like you; it's because they see you bearing arms. As long as you hold a weapon, even a black bear will appear gentle.

They may pretend to care for you, saying, 'Friend, why carry such a heavy weapon? This place is safe, and we are all friends. Why do you need to bear this heavy burden?'

But my brethren, never lay down your arms. For once you do, they will shed their sheepskins and reveal the wolves they truly are. They will devour you completely.

My brethren, be vigilant against those who want you to disarm. They are all serpents, wolves in sheep's clothing. While they speak with oily tongues, their hearts are filled with a hunger for destruction.

Our brethren, how do we deal with these wolves? When a friend brings wine, welcome him. But if a wolf approaches, the only welcome he'll receive is from the barrel of a gun. So, my brethren, hold your weapons close, for they represent freedom, and they shape your destiny."

As Napoleon's army began its gradual withdrawal, he left behind a substantial amount of weapons for the peasants. He even assisted them in forming their own associations. Napoleon believed that, for a considerable time, this region would remain a thorn in the side of the Austrians.