Chapter 145: Surrender

"We still have tens of thousands of men. If we resist to the death, you'll pay a heavy price to eliminate us," Colonel Toral said through gritted teeth, deeply feeling his powerlessness.

"Is that so? Then there's nothing more to discuss. We'll launch an attack in five days. Let's see how many of you are still standing after starving for five days," Napoleon said indifferently.

Napoleon wasn't worried about the Austrian resistance. He knew the situation inside Venice better than General Boris. Murat's surprise attack on Kacca had destroyed all the Austrians' supplies, which included all their food and ammunition. Now, the granaries in Venice were probably so empty that even the rats had left.

Napoleon's words were like a sharp blade, striking Toral's weakest point. Instantly, the anger on Colonel Toral's face disappeared, replaced by deep fear. He knew Napoleon was right. Venice had indeed run out of food, and some people had already started eating grass roots. If they really waited five days before the French attacked, the Austrians would starve to death before the French even needed to fight.

"You... you can't do this. This isn't what a gentleman would do," Toral stammered.

"Enough with the tricks. State your true intentions," Napoleon said impatiently. If these Austrians didn't recognize the reality of their situation, he would have to teach them a lesson.

"Alright, Your Excellency. We wish to surrender to your army. If you can guarantee the safety of all our lives and property, we are willing to lay down our arms and surrender, and we will hand over Venice to you," Toral said truthfully.

"Surrender? The Austrians want to surrender? This could save us a lot of time," the French generals began to discuss among themselves.

"Surrender, yes. As long as you lay down your arms, I, Napoleon, guarantee on my honor that your lives and property will be safe," Napoleon said firmly. He wasn't lying; he intended to adhere strictly to international regulations and treat the Austrian prisoners of war well. After all, if he treated them poorly, no one would surrender to him in the future.

"Where will we go after we surrender?" Toral asked, knowing that many countries mistreated their prisoners, often forcing them into hard labor. Austria itself was known for such practices.

"You will be held in a prisoner-of-war camp with General Vassili," Napoleon replied with a smile. He had indeed fought the Italian campaign brilliantly and captured many Italian officers, including General Vassili. Now, another general would be added to his collection.

"Alright," Toral sighed, agreeing to Napoleon's terms.

After discussing the details, Colonel Toral left and returned to Venice. He immediately reported the terms to General Boris. The demands of the French didn't surprise Boris. With the consent of all the Austrian officers within the encirclement, Boris agreed to the terms.

That afternoon, General Boris, representing the encircled Austrian forces of 10,000 soldiers and the 600,000 civilians within the city, handed over his command sword to Napoleon, symbolizing the transfer of command to the French. All Austrian soldiers laid down their weapons and formed lines to surrender to the French.

According to the agreement, the Austrian soldiers would be provided with food upon entering the prisoner-of-war camps. They would remain there until the end of the war.

Boris's surrender marked the end of the Battle of Venice. Despite deploying a large army, the French did not face a hard battle; the Austrian forces in Venice were easily defeated. The French achieved victory at a minimal cost.

The victory at Venice signified the French's full invasion of Austrian territory.

Meanwhile, in the Austrian capital of Vienna, Emperor Franz II received news of the Venetian garrison's surrender. Enraged, he cursed Boris as a traitor and sinner of Austria, declaring that he deserved to go to hell.

"Curse them! Someone, arrest all of Boris's family members. I want them hanged so they know the fate of traitors. And do not spare the families of any officers who surrendered!" Franz II snarled. His face contorted with rage, showing a side of him rarely seen.

"Your Majesty, please calm down. While General Boris and his men have indeed failed your expectations, their families are innocent. Please, show mercy to those who have done nothing wrong," pleaded Austrian Prime Minister Josip Jelačić.

Jelačić could understand Boris's decision. After all, even Archduke Charles's army of 200,000 had been defeated. How could Boris's mere 10,000, many of whom were old and infirm, stand against the French? Knowing they were doomed, surrender was a reasonable choice to save as many lives as possible, preserving experienced soldiers. Once the war ended, these captured soldiers could return home, pick up their weapons, and become a formidable army again. Among the surrendered soldiers were many officers, invaluable assets to Austria.

"No! They are traitors! They betrayed the Austrian Empire, and I will not show them any mercy," Franz II roared, his anger consuming him. The ongoing defeats of the Austrian army had stoked his fury, and the surrender at Venice had ignited it fully.

In his rage, the emperor might not realize the implications, but Josip Jelačić, as the Prime Minister, had to consider everything carefully. In 19th-century Europe, literacy was not widespread, so ordinary soldiers were often illiterate peasants. However, officers were typically from noble or wealthy families. While the ranks of ordinary soldiers could be replenished by conscripting more peasants, replacing officers was far more challenging, requiring years of training.

More importantly, these officers were not isolated individuals but members of influential networks. Many were connected through marriage and alliances, and executing one could provoke many others. If the enraged emperor, Franz II, ordered the execution of these officers' families, it could spark widespread unrest throughout Austria.

For the sake of Austria's future, Josip Jelačić had to protect these officers.

"Your Majesty, General Boris and his men have indeed betrayed the empire and deserve punishment. However, their families are innocent. Please, show mercy to their families," Josip Jelačić pleaded sincerely. He then cast a meaningful glance at his colleagues.

"Your Majesty, please calm down."

Responding to the Prime Minister's cue, Foreign Minister Izvolsky and Finance Minister Sergey also stepped forward to plead on behalf of the surrendered officers.

Though Franz II was the emperor of the Austrian Empire, he could not completely disregard the opinions of his officials. After all, governing a nation required more than just his efforts. In such a situation, despite his intense anger, Franz II had no choice but to restrain his fury.

"Very well, since you all plead for those traitors, in the name of God, I will spare their families for now. But once the war is over, I will not be lenient," Franz II conceded, finding a way to step down gracefully.

The ministers nodded in agreement, understanding that Franz II's statement was primarily to save face. What the situation would be like once the war ended was anyone's guess.