Boliue dispatched several hundred cavalry to repeatedly confirm that this was not Napoleon's trap before taking the band and the officers from the fortress to welcome Wilmze.
This was his first departure from the Mantua Fortress in over a month.
When he saw Wilmze being surrounded by guards ahead, he immediately opened his arms to greet him.
However, before he could utter a word of his long-prepared speech, Wilmze asked solemnly, "Marshal Boliue, did my reconnaissance troops not detect any traces of the French Army nearby?"
"Yes, under your prestige, they all fled," Boliue replied gleefully. "Actually, they began to retreat one after another starting two days ago. This morning, the last group of more than 3,000 also left.
"Now, the line from Mantua to Brescia is back in our hands..."
"Wait," Wilmze suddenly interrupted, frowning, "You mean the French retreated two days ago?"
"Ah, correct."
"You didn't attempt to pursue them?"