Chapter 202: Chapter 202 - Victory
Brousshe's cavalry played only a minor role in the grand scheme of things. With just over a thousand light cavalrymen, what could they achieve against Napoleon's massive army of over sixty thousand? Brousshe attempted to disrupt Napoleon's advance by darting around with his cavalry, trying to buy some time for the Duke of Brunswick's forces on the other side. But his harassment had little effect, and on one occasion, his cavalry ventured too close, leading to a volley of musket fire from the French infantry, resulting in significant casualties.
After a few laps, Brousshe decided to halt the cavalry at a safer distance to give their horses a chance to rest. It wouldn't be wise to exhaust their mounts; if the French cavalry decided to charge at that moment, escape would be nearly impossible.
As expected, Orléans and his cavalry unit soon approached and confronted Brousshe. After a brief standoff, Brousshe decided it was time to retreat.
His adjutant inquired, "General, shall we retreat to Verdun?"
Brousshe responded firmly, "No, we can't lead the enemy's main force there. We are heading to Longwy."
As a result, Napoleon's army successfully reached Verdun.
Meanwhile, the Duke of Brunswick had managed to regroup as many troops as he could and retreated to his camp. However, the hasty withdrawal resulted in the loss of many supplies, including the British artillery, though they had the foresight to spike the cannon barrels before leaving.
The Anglo-Prussian army, while trying to establish a defensive line, was well aware that bringing all their supplies with them was impossible. They were trapped between the Northern French army and the Italian army, waiting for the inevitable encirclement.
Beyond their fragile defensive line, Napoleon, flanked by a group of his generals, walked toward Joseph, who was accompanied by his advisors.
Joseph extended his hand to Napoleon and said, "General, I now officially transfer command from the defensive to the offensive."
Their hands shook, and Napoleon inquired, "Where will you be heading next?"
"Back to the laboratory," Joseph replied.
"Ah, you always enjoy staying in the rear," Napoleon remarked.
"What about you? Where do you plan to go next?" Joseph asked.
"To Berlin!" Napoleon declared.
Joseph considered for a moment, nodded, and said, "Very well. If you're going to Berlin, I have someone here who might be quite useful. This is General Soult. He's young but capable, and I must say, most of our counterattacks today were under his command. In terms of on-the-spot decision-making, he's even better than I am."
"My goodness, praising me for on-the-spot decision-making isn't exactly an accolade," Napoleon joked, then shook hands with Soult. "Welcome, General Soult. Let's go together and raise the tricolor flag over Brandenburg Gate!"
"I'm thrilled, General. However, before we do that, perhaps we can resolve the little obstacle right in front of us," Soult suggested. "I believe we can send an emissary to request their surrender."
That afternoon, a French messenger carrying Napoleon's letter entered the camp of the Anglo-Prussian army and handed the message to the Duke of Brunswick:
"Duke of Brunswick and esteemed generals,
You find yourselves in an utterly hopeless situation. One of your allies, Russia, has already withdrawn from the war. As for your other ally, Archduke Charles of Austria, his forces are over two hundred kilometers away. Can you truly expect him to come to your aid? Does he possess the means to relieve your predicament? Do you wish to break out? My armies surround you from all sides. If you attempt an escape, my forces will pursue relentlessly, and there is no guarantee you will elude us.
Your forces have suffered heavy casualties, with over half your men taken as prisoners of war. While you have conscripted the peaceful residents of various German states into your ranks, they are ill-prepared for battle. Under our relentless attacks, they have suffered heavy casualties and have lost the will to fight. Now, you are confined to a small area no larger than a camp, making you an easy target for our artillery.
During this time, your wounded and soldiers have suffered greatly under your command. Many of your low-ranking officers and soldiers no longer wish to fight. There have even been instances of mutiny. As marshals and generals, you should consider the feelings of your subordinates, cherish their lives, and find a way out for them before making them sacrifice needlessly.
Currently, we can concentrate forces several times your number, possess firepower ten times greater, and wield advanced weaponry that surpasses your imagination. Our scientific and technological advancements have placed France at the forefront. You've witnessed our capabilities in the battles of these days, but we have even more potent weapons in our arsenal that we haven't unleashed.
If you order an immediate surrender, laying down your arms and ceasing resistance, my forces guarantee the safety of your senior officers and all enlisted men, as well as the protection of their personal property. This is your only way out. Consider it well. If you find this agreeable, act accordingly. If you still wish to fight, it is inevitable that we will deal with you."
The Duke of Brunswick accepted the French proposal and requested further discussion on the matter.
The French envoy replied, "General Napoleon Bonaparte generously grants you a twenty-four-hour period for consideration, which is more lenient than the time he was given initially. If you decide to accept our terms, you may send an envoy for negotiations."
With these matters settled, the French envoy, General Fierma, departed from the coalition camp.
On the following morning, with only two hours remaining until the deadline, the Duke of Brunswick led his surrounded force of over forty thousand soldiers to surrender to the French. He handed over his marshal's baton to Napoleon. The more than forty thousand British and Prussian soldiers accompanying him laid down their arms as well.
The news was rapidly relayed to Paris, and the "Truth of Science" newspaper immediately issued a special edition, which was distributed for free throughout the city. Soon, everyone in Paris learned of the uplifting news, and jubilation echoed throughout the entire city.
Even within the offices of the War Ministry, Carnot could clearly hear the cheers. However, instead of boosting his spirits, these cheers furrowed his brow even further.
He was aware of Joseph's manipulation of the false information. On this matter, Joseph had not deceived him. But the unexpected rebellion resulting from this fabricated news frustrated Carnot. He had thought that the Royalists were already severely weakened after the previous uprising.
Regarding Napoleon's suppression of the Royalist revolt, if asked whether Carnot supported it or not, he would undoubtedly approve. However, the way Napoleon presented the situation in the Assembly had deeply agitated Carnot, as it seemed to undermine the foundations of democracy and the republican system.
Though Lucien had assured him that neither Joseph nor Napoleon had ambitions to become dictators, Carnot remained somewhat concerned.
Carnot was certain that Joseph had no aspirations for the role of dictator, given his inclination to remain in the shadows. Joseph's life philosophy revolved around "making a fortune quietly."
As for Lucien, Carnot was equally confident that he would never consider becoming a dictator. He had watched Lucien grow up and knew him well. Lucien was more interested in fine wines, exquisite cuisine, beautiful women, and idling away his time than pursuing political power. Lucien's life idol was not Caesar or Augustus but the legendary Don Juan.
Napoleon, however, was less predictable. His personal heroes were not limited to Caesar; he also admired Alexander the Great. So, there was a possibility that he might genuinely aspire to be a dictator, or even aim to be the "First Citizen."
Nonetheless, Carnot agreed with Lucien's perspective: France was currently locked in a struggle as a single nation against the entire reactionary feudal world. In the long run, the two were incompatible. Therefore, in this critical moment, it was necessary to accept a temporary dictatorship, as long as it would ensure the fundamental interests—the sovereignty of the people.
"In the land of freedom and democracy, in a battle against the autocratic and dark nations of Europe," Carnot mused, "from a long-term perspective, these are irreconcilable forces. We are not like the United States, which can remain isolated from the rest of the world. So, at this critical juncture, in accordance with the 'Social Contract,' the sovereignty of France naturally derives from the French people, and the government's power is derived from the people's concession. While we prefer that each person yields as little power as possible, at times, relinquishing more authority to safeguard the most fundamental interest—the people's sovereignty—is necessary."
In the current situation, Carnot had to admit that France required a clean and efficient government, one capable of making swift decisions and unwaveringly implementing them. Many of the figures who had previously manipulated events in the political arena had been proven either lacking in ability or marred by moral shortcomings. Therefore, for now, they had to accept a temporary dictatorship.
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