Chapter 117: Personally Going to the Battlefield

"Don't we have ninety thousand reinforcements? At the beginning of the battle, we will be on the defensive. But the final victory will undoubtedly be ours; there's no question about it." Napoleon had immense confidence in defeating the Austrians and securing victory.

"That's good. As long as we can defeat the Russians, no matter how much they spread rumors, it won't matter," said Yang Du.

"Marmont, Murat, I want to go to Tunaia to take command personally and direct this war myself. As for domestic affairs and the city of Rome, I'll leave them to you!" Napoleon said solemnly.

Originally, he had planned to remotely control the situation from here throughout the war. But as the battle developed, he became somewhat concerned. The forces in Tunaia were ultimately only one-fifth of the Austrians', which was undoubtedly a huge disadvantage. Furthermore, Karl was not an easy opponent. Napoleon had suffered losses under his command at Venice before.

This time, Napoleon's decision to return to Tunaia was also motivated by a desire for revenge. His defeat at Venice was his first loss in the Italian campaign, and it had always weighed heavily on his mind. He was determined to avenge himself against Archduke Karl, and now was an excellent opportunity.

"You personally? No, that's too dangerous," Murat immediately refused. Napoleon was the supreme commander, and his every move affected the entire army. If anything happened to him, it would inflict immeasurable damage on the French forces.

"Exactly! Consul, haven't all the operational plans already been arranged? You can command the front lines just as effectively from the headquarters," Marmont quickly added.

Napoleon's decision to personally go to the front line at Tunaia was undoubtedly too risky. Although Napoleon had great confidence in this war, what if something went wrong and Tunaia could not be held? That would be a massive blow to both the French government and the army.

Given the current strength of the French army, even a defeat at the Tunaia battlefield might not eliminate the possibility of turning the tide. After all, the French war machine had been fully mobilized, and soon nearly a hundred thousand more civilians would be armed and sent to the battlefield. These would be fresh troops. But if Napoleon fell into the hands of the Austrians, the French army would be completely defeated.

Napoleon had anticipated the opposition from Murat and Marmont. However, even so, he had already made up his mind, and he would not change it. Additionally, he had his own reasons for personally going to Tunaia to take command.

"Rest assured, there won't be any problems. Even with just the army at Tunaia, we are confident in defeating the Austrians. Coupled with the support of over fifty thousand troops from the Rome front, we have a great chance of driving Karl back in one decisive move. I want to personally go to the front lines to better grasp the rhythm of the battlefield and to boost the morale of the troops there. Additionally, the operation against Austria involves the mobilization of nearly 170,000 troops from both the Northern and Southern Commands, which leaves no room for any mistakes. Only by personally taking command can I ensure that each unit performs to its fullest potential," Napoleon said solemnly.

Although Generals Murat and Moreau were among the highest-ranking officers in the French army, the need for their coordination was sometimes hindered by their equal ranks, as both were generals with the same military standing.

Only with Napoleon's personal command could all these elements come together effectively. After all, as the First Consul of France, he held an unmatched position and prestige within the French army.

In Napoleon's view, if the battle went smoothly, it might not even require the reinforcements. The troops currently stationed at Tunaia could repel Karl's attack, and with subsequent reinforcements, they could even launch a counter-offensive against Venice.

Seeing that Napoleon had made up his mind, Murat furrowed his brow. He was undoubtedly against Napoleon taking such risks.

"Napoleon, do you really have to go?" Murat asked. His relationship with Napoleon was unique, as he had become Napoleon's brother-in-law through his marriage to Caroline.

Thus, Murat was not just a subordinate but also a family member. He did not want to see Napoleon take such risks. However, having worked with Napoleon for so long, he knew very well that once Napoleon made a decision, he would not easily change his mind.

"Murat, don't worry. I'll be fine. We've already built comprehensive defensive fortifications at Tunaia, and the Austrians lack heavy artillery. They primarily use 5-pounder light howitzers, which cannot compare in power and rate of fire to our 15-pounder howitzers, let alone destroy our fortifications. We are certain to win this battle," Napoleon said confidently.

"Very well, then. I won't stop you. But remember, you're not just a soldier anymore. You hold the fate of the French government and army, and even the Bonaparte family. Your safety is the most important thing," Murat reiterated firmly.

Napoleon nodded heavily, understanding Murat's deep concern for him.

"Yes, Consul, Murat is right. Your safety is the most important thing," Davout also chimed in.

"Haha, don't worry, Davout. I won't die before achieving my goals, and there's no one in this world who can take my life," Napoleon laughed heartily.

"Alright! Then I'll be waiting for the news of your triumphant return."

Hearing Napoleon's words, Murat's eyes lit up. He was also filled with confidence in Napoleon's endeavors. If they could defeat the Austrians in this battle, their ambitions would have an excellent start.

"Murat, Davout, I'm entrusting the matters of Rome to you," Napoleon said solemnly. He was going to the front lines at Tunaia to command the battle, but the stability of Rome was also extremely important. They couldn't afford to have issues arise as soon as he left.

"Don't worry, leave Rome to us. Philip won't be able to cause any trouble," Murat said confidently. Although Rome was like a tough nut to crack, he was certain that if Philip dared to come out, he could annihilate the Austrian cavalry in the field.

After settling the matters in Rome, Napoleon left the city with his guards in the afternoon. He traveled secretly, riding through Florence, and arrived at Tunaia.

Tunaia, the location of the French Northern Command. However, the Tunaia of today was completely different from a few weeks ago. The low city walls had been reinforced, and the fortresses destroyed by artillery fire had been rebuilt with stone. All the wooden structures within the city were demolished to prevent fires from artillery strikes. Additionally, a dense network of defensive fortifications had been constructed within the city, preparing for potential street fighting if the city were to be breached.

The French army had suffered significant losses in street battles when they attacked this city before, and now they planned to use the same tactics.

Outside the city, the changes were even more significant. The French army had built three layers of defensive fortifications around Tunaia. Each layer included trenches, fortresses, and artillery positions.

Although these three lines of defense were not impregnable, the Austrians would have to sacrifice tens of thousands of soldiers to break through. The French intended to use the city's defenses to bleed the Austrians dry here.

General Lannes, the Northern Command and Tunaia City Defense Commander, was inspecting the fortifications with his men. These defenses were crucial for their ability to withstand the Austrian attack once the battle began, and to eliminate as much of the Austrian manpower as possible. There was no room for error.

By now, the civilians inside the city had already evacuated. Tunaia would soon become a battlefield, and leaving the civilians here would only lead to unnecessary casualties.

As for the civilians, they could return after the Austrians were defeated.

"We need to further strengthen the defensive lines, increase the firepower points, and place more musket teams here. When the Austrians come, we'll make sure they regret it," General Lannes said.

"Yes, General!" the French soldiers nodded in agreement.