The Fox of France

Chapter 184: Northern Setback

Since the Austrians and Russians were taking their sweet time, Napoleon decided to lead his troops directly into Austrian territory. He wanted to keep the Austrians from idling around with nothing to do.

But Joseph stopped him.

"Napoleon, I'm not here to interfere with your military decisions. I have some information I need to share with you," Joseph said.

Joseph knew that while Napoleon might listen to him on some matters, in military affairs, Napoleon had a big ego. He had a tendency to act as if he knew best and loved to argue with Joseph, so Joseph had to be cautious and make sure Napoleon didn't go off on a tangent.

"Our people have discovered a massive coal mine in the Rhine region," Joseph stated.

Napoleon initially thought about saying, "What's so special about that?" but then he realized that a massive coal mine had great significance.

"How big is it?" Napoleon asked.

"It's enormous, possibly larger than all the coal mines we've found in France combined. And it's very close to Lorraine," Joseph replied.

"Lorraine has iron mines, and the Rhine region has coal mines... This is..." Napoleon clenched his right hand into a fist and tapped it on his left palm repeatedly, clearly excited about the scientific and strategic possibilities.

"It's a shame that both these resources are in the north. It would have been more convenient if they were in Italy," Napoleon sighed. "Joseph, are you suggesting that we should control these areas?"

"Of course. Such valuable resources are most effective in our hands, aren't they?" Joseph responded.

"I think it's not just these resources. The entire of France should be in our hands to achieve its full potential," Napoleon said.

"Are you thinking of becoming a Caesar?" Joseph suddenly asked.

"No, it's not just our family that needs a Caesar. Even France itself needs a Caesar. But you, my brother, always stay in the shadows, manipulating things with an invisible hand. It's safe and very 'Joseph,' but you have to admit, it's not the most efficient way. Even from a scientific perspective, a system with fewer intermediate links is more efficient. This is why you insist on the Zeus Project. In politics, your current approach artificially lowers our efficiency. I think it's time for me to step up and lead," Napoleon declared.

"Are you plotting to seize power?" Joseph asked.

"Not at the moment," Napoleon replied. "But, Joseph, you know me. I have ideas of my own. Tell me yours."

Joseph shot a sharp look at Napoleon and then said, "Napoleon, I think we need a crisis. A crisis that would disappoint everyone with the current government, a crisis that would make everyone look for a hero to save the day. I've studied the military situation in the North and the information we have on enemy deployments. Some of it you've seen, and there's more for you to review."

Napoleon remained silent, picking up the documents to read.

"The reason I don't want you to launch an attack right away is that I fear an early assault might allow the Austrians to get into serious trouble before our northern forces can act. It could end up relieving the northern front. But if you wait for them to concentrate their forces, you might not gain any advantage," Joseph explained.

"But if I wait, by the time their generals get their acts together, it may be too late for us to gain the upper hand," Napoleon responded. "The Archduke Charles of Austria, I've analyzed him before. He's competent. If it weren't for our superior weaponry last time, defeating him might not have been so easy. As for the Russian commander... Suvorov, have you ever studied his tactics and theories?"

"No, I've been quite occupied with other matters, and you are the expert in military affairs," Joseph said.

"Suvorov can be considered one of the best commanders of this era. Have you really never looked into his strategies and tactics?" Napoleon raised an eyebrow, relishing the opportunity to taunt his older brother.

Joseph didn't respond to Napoleon's provocation, as he believed in not engaging in warfare in areas where the enemy excelled. He then asked, "So, how do you think you'd fare against him?"

"I haven't fought him yet, but I'm looking forward to it," Napoleon replied.

Such words were rare for Napoleon to utter. This indicated that he had confidence but not certainty in facing Suvorov.

"So, you want to defeat the Austrians before Suvorov arrives?" Joseph questioned.

Napoleon nodded.

"Think about it. If the northern forces were defeated by someone like the Duke of Brunswick, and yet you could defeat Archduke Charles and Suvorov in Italy, wouldn't that be even better?" Joseph suggested.

"Do you have that much faith in me? What are you hiding from me, Joseph? Don't keep secrets!" Napoleon demanded.

"I do have some things to show you. Shall we go to the laboratory?" Joseph asked.

Napoleon's visit to the laboratory revealed what he had seen there, and he didn't seem particularly pleased when he left for Italy. It was said that he complained to his chief of staff, Berthier, on the way: "This war is no longer interesting. Annoying people have ruined the beauty of war with their crude methods."

Accompanying Napoleon to Italy were newly purchased military supplies, which he began using to construct new defensive fortifications as soon as he arrived.

On the northern front, the Prussian and British coalition's strength continued to grow rapidly. Thanks to generous British funding, Prussian mobilization was swift. Within a few months, they raised another 300,000 troops, mostly raw recruits with limited training. However, many of them would replace troops used to suppress Polish resistance in the Polish front.

Compared to the Irish independence fighters, the Polish nationalist movement was relatively subdued. The Polish nobility who supported the cause limited their actions to small-scale, mostly symbolic attacks, targeting low-ranking officials or even ordinary soldiers. High-level operations were mere intimidation, and any opportunities to use firearms were often at point-blank range.

The limited resistance had little impact. In Ireland, they had already hanged a duke, but the Polish nationalist faction could barely kill a major.

The lackluster resistance from the Polish nationalists, combined with betrayal by the nobility, resulted in the movement's either being defeated in battle or being hanged, leaving only a handful of survivors who managed to escape and flee to France.

On the northern front, the Prussian and British forces steadily increased in number. They had quickly amassed a significant numerical advantage over the French troops.

Prussia worked diligently, and the British worked even harder. They knew that they had to defeat the French to address the Irish issue. If they couldn't handle Ireland, which was right next door, or required immense effort to do so, Britain's global dominance would be greatly threatened.

Consequently, the British carried out extensive mobilization at home, quickly raising an additional 100,000 troops. In February 1798, 50,000 British troops landed in Emden, advancing south along the Ems River, posing a significant threat to the French forces stationed in Hanover.

The French had noticed this danger early. During the brief peace, they had begun fortifying the Monastery fortress. However, various factors had delayed the completion of the project.

With the imminent arrival of the British and Prussian forces, the French rushed to finish the construction. But even after the fortifications were completed, the French garrison there was weak. The French forces were thinly spread, and many of the fresh troops Napoleon brought with him to Italy were put to work constructing new fortifications.

This defensive approach was more aligned with Napoleon's character. Though he had a formidable army, he preferred to let his fortified positions deter the enemy. His forces would act as a mobile reserve to react to enemy movements and threats.

With the construction of the Monastery fortress underway, the French army in Hanover braced itself for the coming invasion by the British and Prussian forces.

The success of the French northern forces would largely depend on their ability to defend Hanover and contain the British and Prussian invasion. However, with an enemy that was growing in strength and determination, the situation in the north was about to become increasingly challenging for Napoleon and his forces.