Kapitel 125: Chapter 125: Napoleon's Dilemma
Archduke Karl still demanded a fierce attack from the army. He declared to his generals that the elite French troops had been wiped out in the first defensive line, and the remaining two lines were merely a rabble. He believed that with one final push, they could break through the French defenses and capture Terni.
"Soldiers, those damn Frenchmen are at their last gasp! As long as we launch another fierce attack, we will surely break through their defenses and capture Terni. Starting today, the intensity of our attack on Terni must be maintained as before!" Archduke Karl issued the command with a serious expression.
Outside Terni, only two defensive lines remained. Archduke Karl believed that this time they could break through the French defenses more smoothly. Once inside Terni, they could wipe out all the French forces.
"Yes, Your Grace!" The other generals had no choice but to rally their spirits and continue the assault.
Despite having a formidable army of two hundred thousand, the Austrian forces had suffered significant casualties from days of fighting. This left the generals doubtful about their ability to capture Terni.
Despite their doubts, as soldiers, they had to resolutely follow orders. As the saying goes, military orders are like mountains. Without the commander's orders, no one could retreat.
Starting from July 8th, the Austrian army launched an attack on the second French defensive line.
Countless Austrian soldiers, led by junior officers, numbly charged towards the French positions. The high casualty rate had left these soldiers numb, as if they had forgotten fear. They crouched low, braving the French gunfire as they attacked the enemy positions.
For these Austrian soldiers, they had almost become walking corpses. Death, perhaps, was the best release for them.
Of course, the senior Austrian commanders had never regarded these ordinary soldiers as human beings; they were merely cannon fodder.
As the saying goes, "War is not benevolent." War inevitably entails casualties in pursuit of objectives. Although Archduke Karl did not wish for so many of his soldiers to die or be injured, for the sake of the Austrian Empire's interests, he had to do so, and could only do so.
第125章 拿破仑的困境
"Charge! Charge!" The Austrian army shouted slogans as they rushed towards the French positions. They could only pray that the artillery shells wouldn't fall on their heads. Apart from that, they had no other options left.
"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"
However, when the piercing shriek of artillery shells came from above, the Austrian soldiers couldn't help but turn pale. Some continued to charge forward, but many more lay flat on the ground, trying to evade the French artillery fire. Although at the beginning of the battle, these Austrians didn't know how to avoid artillery fire, the battlefield was the best teacher. Under the French artillery fire, these Austrian soldiers had already learned how to protect themselves.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
The explosions sent shockwaves rippling outwards. Countless Austrian soldiers were thrown into the air, and shrapnel scattered around, claiming their lives. Even lying on the ground couldn't completely guarantee their safety from the French artillery fire.
"Artillery, return fire!"
After suffering from the French artillery barrage, the Austrian artillery immediately returned fire. With shells pouring out from their barrels, they whistled towards the French positions.
Under the bombardment of artillery shells, the French counterattack was also stalled, but the brave French soldiers did not retreat.
"Rat-tat-tat!"
As the Austrian troops approached closer and closer to the French positions, French riflemen opened fire.
In the long battle, numbness had spread not only among the Austrians but also among the French soldiers. At the beginning of the battle, the French soldiers were still full of hot blood. But as they killed more and more Austrian soldiers, they gradually became numb. Now, they were no different from killing machines. It was merely a mechanical pull of the trigger, taking away the lives of Austrian soldiers. To them, killing Austrian soldiers was no different from killing pigs or chickens.
Facing the Austrian army's attacks, their dense formations undoubtedly gave them an excellent opportunity. They just needed to aim their guns at the Austrian soldiers and pull the trigger. After the scorching bullets flew out of the gun barrels, they took away the guilty lives of these Austrians.
Every Austrian army attack left a field of corpses in front of the French positions. However, even so, the Austrian army was still tireless, as if they didn't care about these losses at all.
In comparison, the losses of the French army were much smaller. However, their consumption of weapons and ammunition was significantly higher. Even so, the French considered it worthwhile. Using weapons and ammunition to consume the lives of the Austrian army was much better than exchanging their own soldiers' lives.
Night raids remained a common tactic of the Austrian army. Because during sustained combat, the Austrian army found that only at this time would the powerful firepower of the French be greatly restricted. This gave the Austrian army the opportunity to break through the French defenses and engage in hand-to-hand combat.
Hand-to-hand combat has always been an advantage for the Austrians. It is only in hand-to-hand combat that the Austrian army has the opportunity to defeat the French army.
"Report to the Consul! The Austrian army launched another night raid last night, but fortunately our soldiers defeated them after a desperate fight. Currently, the second line of defense is still in our hands." In the command post, Larna reported to Napoleon.
"Damn Austrians, it never ends! How can they raid every night? Are they all descendants of vampires? The daylight would burn them to death," Moro said angrily. Because of the Austrian night raids, his troops suffered considerable losses.
"Alright, Moro, don't be angry. Karl is not a fool either. Since he knows our army is not good at night battles, he will certainly make a big effort in night combat," Napoleon said with a frown. Karl enjoys a great reputation in the Austrian army, and today's encounter proves he is no ordinary opponent. He is more difficult to deal with than any Austrian general Napoleon has encountered.
"Moro, how many men do you have left to participate in the battle?" Napoleon asked Moro.
"Consul, my second division has fewer than 4,000 men left. If we count the wounded, I can send 4,600 men to continue the fight," Moro replied solemnly, standing up to address Napoleon. He knew that Turin was now in a life-or-death situation.
"Very well, after daybreak, send all your troops to the third line of defense. At the same time tonight, have Larna's first division, defending the second line of defense, withdraw. Your two infantry divisions will merge and jointly defend the third line of defense," Napoleon ordered Moro.
Napoleon no longer had the arrogance he once possessed. Originally, he had thought he could achieve a brilliant victory at Turin against all odds, creating a glorious chapter in military history. But now it seemed he might not be able to hold out. In the end, he had underestimated Karl.
"Yes, Consul!" General Moro nodded and replied.
The next morning, the French troops withdrew from the second line of defense. The initially withdrawn Second Infantry Division, after a brief rest, rejoined the battle. They merged with Larna's First Infantry Division, preparing to jointly defend against the Austrian army's final assault.
On the morning of July 9th, the Austrian army launched another attack. However, to their surprise, they encountered no resistance this time. They easily occupied the French second line of defense. By this time, the French had already retreated to the third line of defense.
This news greatly boosted the morale of the Austrian army commanders, who had been somewhat discouraged and confused before.
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein