Chapter 782: Gazing Upon Lombardy
Napoleon looked at the distant snow-covered mountain peaks, then nudged his horse forward without hesitation. Turning to the logistics officer beside him, he said:
—Don't worry about supplies. Have you forgotten the benevolent Saint Bernard Monastery in these mountains?
He was referring to a monastery built in the 11th century by Saint Bernard of Menthon[Note 1], located on the slopes of the Alps. Over the centuries, it had expanded significantly and was now large enough to provide sustenance for thousands of soldiers.
The logistics officer hesitated for a moment, then quickly caught up to Napoleon.
—Commander, sir, I must remind you that the Crown Prince strictly forbids us from "forcibly requisitioning supplies" in Italian towns.
"Requisitioning supplies" was just a polite way of saying looting.
Napoleon flashed a sly grin.
—Yes, we are not to requisition supplies in Italy. But His Highness never said we couldn't accept the monastery's generosity.
—Besides, Major Odoric isn't here, is he? That means we have some flexibility, doesn't it?
Odoric was the official in charge of logistics, appointed by Joseph, but he was currently with Dimoulin's forces near Diego.
The logistics officer continued trying to dissuade him:
—Even if the monks help us, we will still be short on supplies. The monastery can only sustain us for about a week, and once we reach Fort Bard, we might face a prolonged siege. We should wait for the supplies from Brest to arrive before…
—You don't need to worry about the fort. —Napoleon's voice was full of confidence.— His Highness has already "solved" that problem for me.
—Leaving two days earlier will give us a greater strategic advantage.
In history, after crossing the Great Saint Bernard Pass, the French army had spent two weeks unsuccessfully trying to storm Fort Bard. Eventually, some soldiers learned from local shepherds about a hidden mountain path beside the fortress. Under the cover of darkness, they slipped past it.
However, because their earlier attacks had put the garrison on high alert, only infantry managed to get through the path undetected. When they later tried to transport artillery, they were spotted by the Austrians, who began shelling the narrow route.
As a result, the French were forced to abandon most of their cannons, and only six made it into Italy.
But this time, Joseph had given Napoleon advance knowledge of the secret path. If the French avoided alarming the defenders from the start, their artillery would have a much better chance of making it through.
As for the exact location of the path, Napoleon would simply ask the locals when they arrived.
Two Days Later
To the beat of marching drums, the French artillery corps chanted in unison as they urged mules and donkeys forward, dragging massive logs up the mountainside.
This was an idea devised by Colonel Marmont.
By hollowing out tree trunks and placing cannon barrels inside, then securing them with ropes, they could drag them through the snow much more easily.
Without this invention, all their 12-pound cannons would have been left behind at the base of the mountain—hauling these nearly two-ton artillery pieces up steep, icy slopes was simply impossible.
By dusk, the cavalry regiment of the Moulin Corps was the first to reach the Saint Bernard Monastery.
The monks didn't even need to be asked; they eagerly brought out food and wine from their cellars—"a warm welcome for the King's army."
The abbot himself presented Napoleon with a generous "gift" of 200,000 francs, showing the utmost hospitality.
The next morning, Napoleon bid farewell to the abbot. Unable to refuse his generosity, he had his soldiers load eight carts of grain and dried meat from the monastery before setting off once more.
As the army marched away, dozens of Saint Bernard dogs barked enthusiastically behind them. Napoleon turned to Marmont and joked:
—You see, if Mr. Hannibal had been a servant of God, his soldiers wouldn't have had to starve while crossing the Alps. Oh, and they might have even received extra pay. [Note 2]
Marmont looked puzzled.
—Extra pay?
—That's right. —Napoleon nodded.— Ten francs per soldier, with bonuses for officers.
He took 150,000 francs from the abbot's "gift" and distributed it among the troops. Once they entered Italy, they would be isolated and in a dangerous situation, so a little morale boost was necessary.
One Week Later
Napoleon looked back at Fort Bard in the distance and smiled triumphantly.
Taking a deep breath, he murmured to himself:
—Praise be to His Highness the Crown Prince! You have given me a vast battlefield, and I shall repay you with a glorious victory.
The night before, he had ordered his men to spread dry straw mixed with dung along the narrow path west of the fortress to muffle their footsteps.
After more than three hours, every soldier, cannon, and supply cart had successfully bypassed the heavily fortified stronghold.
Now, stretched out before Napoleon, was the vast Lombardy Plain.
Meanwhile, Near Diego, West of Genoa
As Napoleon prepared to enter the Great Saint Bernard Pass, Roberto Vanoni glanced nervously at the long line of French troops stretching beyond the horizon. Clutching his horse's reins tightly, he turned to Dimoulin and whispered:
—Honorable General, I mean no offense—I just want to confirm once more. When we reach Voltri, you will sign the agreement with my country?
Vanoni was an envoy sent by Michelangelo Abbiasso, the Doge of Genoa.
Two days earlier, an Austrian force had aggressively entered Genoa, seizing control of its administration and all defensive positions.
After failed negotiations with the Austrian commander, General Argentau, Abbiasso, following the advice of several councilors, had secretly dispatched Vanoni to contact the French forces advancing into Italy.
To his surprise, the French had agreed without hesitation, promising to drive the Austrians out of Genoa and repeatedly assuring that they would withdraw immediately after the battle.
Dimoulin nodded with a smile.
—As soon as His Excellency the Doge sends official authorization, we will sign the agreement.
—In fact, His Highness the Crown Prince has repeatedly emphasized that Genoa's neutrality must be respected. France has no intention of altering that status.
The Genoese envoy beamed with joy and bowed respectfully.
—Praise be to the merciful and great Crown Prince! He is truly the embodiment of divine order on Earth! He brings justice and fairness to Italy! I swear, every citizen of Genoa will forever remember His Highness's selfless aid!
Notes:
[Note 1] Saint Bernard of Menthon – Bishop of Aosta and overseer of the Alpine region. To assist travelers, he established a monastery and hospice at the highest point of the Alpine pass. His monks, aided by well-trained search-and-rescue dogs, saved countless people trapped by harsh weather and provided them with food and clothing. (This is where the famous Saint Bernard rescue dogs originated.)
[Note 2] Hannibal Barca – A Carthaginian military commander who, in 218 BC, led his army across the Alps to attack the Roman Republic. Due to the difficulties of logistics and supply chains at the time, tens of thousands of his soldiers died from starvation and exposure. However, he ultimately reached Italy and delivered a devastating blow to the Roman forces.
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 40 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/johanssen10