Napoleon II Reborn

Chapter 312: cavalry night raid

(Chapter 1 arrives, there will be chapter 1 later)

"Ivanovic, do you think we should choose a better breakthrough point?" Kutuzov asked while standing in front of the military map, staring at the French defense line. Since there will be a battle with the French army sooner or later, the later the war, the worse it will be for the Russian army. All Kutuzov is preparing to launch an attack while the Russian army still has an advantage. If the strategy is right, it may bring him unexpected results.

Ivanovich is the commander of the Russian Cossack cavalry. After listening to Kutuzov's question, he knew that this time his army would be the main force to break through the enemy's defense line again. "The firepower of the French army is very strong. Frankly speaking, our advantage was completely suppressed when we fought against the French army. From the perspective of the entire defense line of the French army, the northern part is the Warta River. Crossing the river to attack us It is very unfavorable. To the south is the Oder River. What they really need to spend a lot of energy defending is actually the area between the Warta River and the Oder. If I had to choose, I would choose to attack from near Slubice ’” Ivanovic said.

Hearing the place name Slubice, Kutuzov's expression tightened inexplicably. This place was the place where he fought against the 88th Army for the first time. It was here that his troops suffered heavy losses in the face of the French army, which had much fewer troops than him, and was even invaded by others later. the hinterland of the country. "The French army will definitely pay attention to this area, and their defense there will definitely be very tight." Kutuzov said.

Ivanovic shook his head: "In my opinion, there is no better breakthrough than this location."

"Platov, what's your point of view?" Kutuzov asked the other.

"My opinion is the same as Ivanovic's. As long as Ivanovic's cavalry can break through the French defense line, my army can expand the results from this place." Platov replied. In this Russian army, he led 100,000 Russian troops, but they were basically infantry, so the requirements for terrain would not be as high as Ivanovic.

"What about you, Minoradovich?" Kutuzov looked at the last person in the headquarters. He was another general who commanded 100,000 Russian troops.

"My army is all recruits, and may not play as big a role in the offensive as the other two armies, so I think it is best for my army not to participate in the breakthrough of the French defense line, and focus on alerting other French troops It may be even more important." Minoradovic said frankly. Among the 400,000 Russian army, a large part of his troops are composed of recruits, so the combat effectiveness is also the weakest.

"Other French troops? The French army is now fighting Austria and the United Kingdom with all its legions except the army in Prussia. Why do we need to guard against other French troops?" Platov said with some disdain.

"Really? Don't forget that the French army also deployed a French 3rd Army in the Kingdom of Saxony. If the army suddenly attacked from the Kingdom of Saxony when our army stormed the French defense line and cut off our army's retreat, then we will What kind of result will we face?" Minoradovic shrugged indifferently and said relaxedly.

After being reminded by him, everyone noticed that there was another legion in France that was eyeing the Kingdom of Saxony. If the back road is cut off as Minoradovich said, I am afraid that the Russian army will be doomed.

"Don't forget that we still have 200,000 reinforcements on the way." Platov said suddenly. The eyes of the others also brightened. yes! We still have 200,000 troops at our disposal. In terms of strength, we have an absolute advantage over the French army.

"Hehe. Don't forget that the French army's combat effectiveness is very strong. I doubt whether our army can withstand the opponent's attack if the French 3rd Army wants to attack our rear." Minoradovic said with a smile. He was one of the Russian generals who paid more attention to France in front of him, and he naturally knew more about the combat effectiveness of the French army than others.

"That's how it is. Minoradovic's army is deployed along the Oder River. Your main task is to effectively lead the French army's attack in case the French 3rd Army really launches an attack from the south." Kutuzov said after pondering for a while. In his opinion, it is better to be careful, so as not to be defeated like before. As long as the southern line cannot withstand the attack of the French army, he will immediately choose to retreat.

Minoradovich nodded and accepted Kutuzov's order.

"So now, I announce a new combat order. Starting tomorrow morning, we will officially start our attack on the French army. General Ivanovich's Cossack cavalry will take on the main task of breaking through the French defense line. General Platov The army with me is responsible for pinning down the other parts of the French army and expanding the defense line after General Ivanovic successfully broke through the French defense line. The artillery is responsible for giving General Ivanovic full support. ’ ordered Kutuzov. The time for the attack was chosen at 4:00 am on April 4. They hoped that the surprise attack would break through the French defenses. The location of the attack was the area around Slubice.

After Kutuzov's order was made, the various units of the Russian army began to move. Of course, their abnormal behavior also attracted the attention of the French army, and the French army also secretly raised their vigilance.

"It seems that the Russian army is going to make a big move. Everyone, from now on, we must strengthen our defenses." Davout said after looking at the information sent by the intelligence department. In front of him sat Marshal Bessières and Marshal Saint-Sierre, the commanders of the French 2nd and 4th Legions (the former deputy head of the French 1st Army, who was appointed after the formation of the 4th Army) as the commander of the 4th Army Corps). Among them, Marshal Davout participated in the battle between the 88th Army and Kutuzov's troops.

"Does Kutuzov really think that with his little army, he can break through the defenses of our three legions?" Saint-Cyr laughed. Although he did not personally participate in the battle that year, he had heard it from others. At that time, the 88th Army, the remnants of the Guards Army, and the 5th Army had a total of about 80,000 people, while the Russian army had 300,000 people, but they were still defeated by the French army. Now there are nearly 300,000 French troops here, and only 400,000 Russian troops. He really does not believe that the Russian army can break through the French defense line under such circumstances.

"Does Kutuzov have any other basis? Otherwise, he wouldn't have launched an attack on us knowing that it was impossible." Bessière said with a frown.

"Could it be the 200,000 reinforcements from Russia? But won't it take a few days to arrive?" Saint-Cyr said.

"Then I don't know. But don't worry about other things, as long as we strengthen the defense here, and don't let them take advantage of it." Unable to understand the reason, Davout had to order a legion to strengthen the defense.

Facing Slubice is Frankfurt, a small eastern Prussian city (with the same name as Frankfurt, a large city in central Germany). In the defense line of the French army, this small town is very important and serves as a support point. If this place is captured by the Russian army, the entire defense line of the French army may collapse. Therefore, the main force of Davout's 1st French Army was responsible for defending this area.

At 4 o'clock in the morning on April 4th, 30,000 Russian Cossack cavalry began to make final preparations before the battle. They will be the first wave of troops to attack Frankfurt, which is heavily guarded by the French army. If they were successful, the infantry would go straight into battle. If not, the second wave of 20,000 Cossack cavalry will make a second attack. If the second wave of attack still fails, then there is no need for the Russian army to stay here after losing the cavalry. When that time really came, Kutuzov would order a retreat without hesitation. Reserve some strength for the Russian army, so that in the future there will be stronger strength to defend Russia, and it will not be invaded by the French army into the hinterland of the mainland like it was in 1806.

The night is very quiet, and the slightest sound can be heard far away. Even though the hooves of each horse were tied with straw, the sound of 30,000 horses running together was still like thunder.

At 4 o'clock in the morning, it is the most tired time for a person. At this time, most people on the French defense line have fallen asleep. In addition to those sentries on duty at night, due to the abnormality of the Russian army, Davout arranged twice as many sentries as before, for fear of being suddenly attacked by the Russian army.

"Damn it, it's thundering at UU Reading www.uukanshu.com, so it won't be raining." Sentinel A said depressingly. If it rains, their trenches turn into mud puddles, and it's hardly a place for people to stay.

"No, I heard from the company commander that the weather forecast from the legion will be sunny tomorrow?" Sentinel B said.

"But why is there thunder?" Sentinel A asked back.

"No, this doesn't look like thunder." Sentinel B said affirmatively. Because the thunder they heard was very strange, it was actually a continuous "booming" sound without any interval.

At this time, Sentinel A also noticed the abnormality: "It's not thunder, could it be... cavalry. By the way, it's the voice of cavalry."

Sentinel B immediately rang the alarm bell, and the crisp bell sounded far and far in the silent night. At the same time as the alarm bell sounded, the French soldiers immediately got out of bed and rushed to the position with their weapons. The artillery also rushed to their position, pulled off the gun cover, and made preparations before launching.

Finally, the "thunder" was getting closer. They can be sure that this is the sound of the impact of the Russian cavalry. Although caught off guard, the soldiers were still preparing for the battle under the leadership of their respective officers.