Chapter 123: The Dilemma of the Austrian Army

Humans are not made of steel; their energy and stamina deplete over time, especially during intense battles. Coupled with the formidable strength of the French army, which was built entirely upon powerful firepower, this led to a rapid consumption of weapons and ammunition at the front lines.

"Let the 1st Infantry Division of Lanna replace the 2nd Infantry Division of Moro. Have the 2nd Infantry Division withdraw and rest," Napoleon decisively ordered as the afternoon wore on.

The officers and soldiers of the 2nd Infantry Division had become too tired, and their combat effectiveness was declining. If they continued like this, unnecessary losses would occur.

"Yes, Prime Minister," nodded Moro, the commander of the 2nd Infantry Division. He knew his troops had reached their breaking point and chose to follow Napoleon's command rather than risk further losses.

Under Napoleon's orders, the 1st Infantry Division quickly arrived at the front lines to replace the 2nd Infantry Division of Moro.

With the arrival of fresh troops, the combat effectiveness of the French army remained at a high level as they continued to engage the Austrian forces. The battle persisted until late in the evening, when the Austrian army finally ceased its attacks.

However, in front of the French positions, the bodies of Austrian soldiers had already piled up thickly. The blood spilled from these soldiers had saturated the earth, forming small pools in the low-lying areas.

"The day is late, and visibility is poor. It's no longer suitable for further attacks. Order the soldiers on the front lines to retreat!" Archduke Charles lowered his telescope and instructed his deputy, Mörth, standing beside him.

"Retreat!"

"Boom-boom-crash! Boom-boom-crash!" With the issuance of Archduke Charles's retreat order, clear drum beats resonated through the Austrian army, signaling the retreat.

"Archduke Charles has ordered a retreat! Fall back!"

"Retreat! Quickly, retreat!" On the front lines, Austrian officers immediately ordered their soldiers to retreat upon hearing the drumbeats signaling the retreat.

Today's battle had been too brutal, and they did not wish to continue fighting. The sound of the retreat drums was more than an order; it was a heavenly melody. As such, all Austrian officers promptly and resolutely executed the order the moment they heard it, marking the first time they had responded so quickly to a command.

As night fell, the Austrian troops attacking Tunay retreated from the battlefield like the receding tide, leaving behind a field littered with bodies. The choking smell of gunpowder and blood in the air testified to the ferocity of the battle that had just occurred.

"Ah! The Austrians have finally retreated. They truly fought bravely! I reckon they've lost tens of thousands of troops on the battlefield today alone," remarked Napoleon as he stood on the walls of Tunay, surveying the scene through his telescope.

On the battlefield, Austrian bodies lay piled up in layers, forming a thick carpet of carnage. Countless severely wounded soldiers groaned in agony, but no one paid them any heed. In the chaos of battle, there was no time or resources to spare for their rescue.

"Indeed, Marshal. Despite deploying such a large army, the Austrians have returned empty-handed. It seems breaking through our defenses and capturing Tunay is simply impossible for them," remarked General Lanna.

Napoleon nodded. "This time, we will make the Austrians bleed at Tunay, let them shed every last drop of blood."

"These wounded soldiers are suffering terribly. Let our comrades lend them a hand. Furthermore, be on guard; the Austrians may launch a nighttime raid," Napoleon continued, issuing orders.

"Yes, Prime Minister," nodded General Lanna. Since the Austrians failed to break through the French defenses during the day, they would likely attempt other methods, such as launching a nighttime attack. Given the recent raids by the French under the cover of darkness, it was expected that Archduke Charles would seek retaliation.

During the 19th century, due to shortages of medicine and inadequate medical facilities, no country would prioritize the treatment of severely wounded soldiers on the battlefield. It would only be a waste of precious resources. Thus, the fate awaiting injured soldiers was inevitable - death.

To spare them further agony, to grant them a swift end, was the best choice.

"Yes, Prime Minister!"

Upon receiving the orders, French soldiers emerged from their trenches and entered the battlefield, using their bayonets to end the lives of the gravely wounded Austrian soldiers who still struggled in their agony.

"What are those damn Frenchmen doing?" asked General Morfert, perplexed, as he observed the French actions through his telescope.

"Damn those despicable Frenchmen! They're killing our wounded soldiers! They're nothing but beasts! They don't even spare the wounded. Do they not fear divine punishment? Will they not be condemned to hell?" exclaimed General Odor, furious. After all, those wounded soldiers on the battlefield were his subordinates.

"No, they're helping those wounded soldiers find release. Since we lack the ability to rescue them, those Frenchmen won't be so kind as to save them. Therefore, let those wounded soldiers suffer a little less. It can be considered a form of mercy for them," replied Archduke Charles, putting down his telescope.

After the war, the treatment of wounded soldiers on the battlefield was considered inhumane, but even so, it gradually evolved into an unwritten rule. Europe at this time was not as "civilized" as in later years, and there was no advocacy for the Geneva Conventions.

On the battlefield, the lives of ordinary soldiers were worthless. In fact, except for noble officers, the lives of ordinary soldiers were no different from weeds.

Upon hearing this, General Odor's face flashed with a hint of shame and anger. Of course, he knew about this unwritten rule of the battlefield. It's just that his infantry division suffered heavy losses in today's battle, so he naturally wouldn't have a favorable opinion of the French and would do everything in his power to vilify them.

Archduke Charles nodded, saying nothing more, and turned back to his tent. Inside the tent, his mind churned with thoughts.

Today's battle had left a deep impression on him. The Austrian army's attack could be described as incredibly fierce. But even after suffering tremendous casualties, they still couldn't break through the French defenses. It was evident that the French military strength was extremely formidable.

Now, Archduke Charles was starting to worry. Would they be able to break through the French defenses and capture Tunay? If not, then they were done for.

The 200,000-strong army was dispatched with the full might of the Austrian Empire, aiming to reverse their previous defeats and reclaim Italy from the French. Tolentino was the first step in this counter-offensive, and if they failed to make progress here, the road ahead would become even more difficult.

If they couldn't quickly crush Tolentino, the battle was likely to devolve into a stalemate, which Austria could ill afford. Despite being armed with 200,000 soldiers, the corresponding supplies had not been delivered from home. This meant that if they couldn't capture Tolentino soon, they would be in serious trouble. The shortage of war materials alone could starve them to death in Tolentino.

Their current supplies could last no more than ten days at most. If they still couldn't capture Tolentino in ten days, they wouldn't even have enough food. By then, not to mention continuing the attack, they would probably starve to death.

Two hours later, a brief battle damage report was delivered to Archduke Karl. Today's battle had cost them over 15,000 men, yet this fierce fighting had only advanced the Austrian army less than 200 meters. This grim outcome made Archduke Karl very displeased.

"Order the troops to prepare for a night raid tonight! No matter what, we must break through those damn French defenses," Archduke Karl said fiercely.