Chapter 870: England and Austria's Last-Ditch Effort

On the tallest tower of Mantua Fortress, Bolieu and Wilmsze watched as four riders dashed out of the fortress, braving the French Army's concentrated fire, and soon disappeared from view.

The two Austrian commanders silently made the sign of the cross over their chests, praying that those cavalrymen could break through the encirclement and deliver their joint plea for help to Vienna.

Outside the fortress, the French Hunters armed with rifled guns quickly shot three riders dead, then the company commander hastily pressed down the soldier's guns still eager to fire:

"Let him go! Hey, stop shooting!"

This was Napoleon's order.

Allowing the messenger to escape was meant to hasten Austria's dispatch of reinforcements to Mantua, while the killing of the other three added urgency on the Vienna front.

...

Vienna.

Schonbrunn Palace.

In the Grand Gallery Hall, Mainz diplomat Mayer knelt on the scarlet carpet, wiping away tears with his sleeve, choking out to Franz II: