So in Napoleon's view, it would be necessary to pay a huge price to defend Antwerp. If this is the case, it would be better to give Antwerp to the British and then paralyze the British with this attitude, so that the British generals would disagree with the French army.
In Napoleon's vision, the best place to fight the British was not in the city of Antwerp, but outside the city of Antwerp!
Antwerp is located in the Schelds-Moselle-Rhine Delta plain, with flat terrain and crisscrossing rivers. Such terrain is undoubtedly beneficial to the British army with strong naval support, but it is a headache for the French and Austrians.
Yes, since that's the case, it's better to give up.
Napoleon had his own opinion on the coming decisive battle. The British army had a large number of troops, well-equipped, and supported by a strong navy. From all aspects, the British seemed to have the upper hand, but Napoleon knew that the British had
A very significant disadvantage.
That is, British soldiers generally lack experience in large-scale warfare. At the same time, because of the prevalence of British human rights, these British soldiers were not very brave at all, which was particularly outstanding in the North American war.
However, the soldiers under Napoleon's command were completely opposite. Although the French army under Napoleon's command was much less than the British, these soldiers under Napoleon were all veterans who survived after large-scale battles. In terms of combat experience
Definitely rich.
In addition, Napoleon's rigorous training for his soldiers over the past few months has improved his team's combat experience while also making the soldiers in the army realize that they must not have a trace of fear of death on the battlefield, otherwise
If you either die at the hands of the enemy or die under the gun of the supervising team behind you!
This is not an exaggeration! When stationed in Calais, the French army conducted many large-scale drills, and those soldiers who were afraid of being afraid of death in the drills were not dragged out and beaten to the point of being left.
In the last breath, I was beaten to death!
"Govern the army strictly!" It has always been the slogan that Napoleon said.
In addition, Napoleon was not stingy with his soldiers. After breaking through Paris, Napoleon actually dared to risk the great deficiencies of the world to fulfill his promise to his soldiers and looted Paris! Although Napoleon's move made him France
The palace was thorny, but at the same time, this move also allowed Napoleon to gain the loyal support of his own army.
When Napoleon told Austrian Governor Noveliko his thoughts, from the perspective of Austrian, Noveliko naturally objected.
"Marquis Marquis, you should understand the importance of Antwerp to our two countries! Losing Antwerp means that the British have put their necks on your and my necks, so that we will completely lose the initiative. Antwerp is not only
It is an important port city, and I don’t need to say much about its strategic location. I believe you understand it too!”
Novelico's words make some sense, but this is not enough to impress Napoleon. God can testify that since Napoleon entered the army, there are really no one else who can make him obey, except Queen Mary. Now Novelico is trying to make Napoleon.
It is obviously impossible to give up the original idea.
Novelico just finished speaking. Napoleon waved his hand and said:
"His Excellency the Governor, as the main force of this battle and the commander of the French Kingdom army, has the highest level of command for this war. Therefore, this battle will follow my steps, and my plan is to give up
Antwerp!”
"His Marquis.....'
"Governor Noveliko, please follow the order immediately! Gradually withdraw the defensive forces around Antwerp! But remember for me. When retreating, don't let the British see that they have retreated under the order, and must let the British be allowed to
People think that our army has very low combat effectiveness, and under the attack of the British, it can be said that it is about to collapse at once!"
Facing Napoleon with a cold eyes, although Novelico still did not agree with his plan in his heart, Novelico had to follow Napoleon's orders to execute.
After Novelico left, Napoleon immediately summoned a hardcore general under his command.
"In this battle, the British were at the upper hand, so we had to use a series of means to make the British underestimate the enemy. Therefore, in my plan, our army needs to fail. And it is not just one failure!"
As soon as Napoleon opened his mouth, he shocked all the generals.
For generals, they are more eager for victory than soldiers, because for soldiers, victory may only mean survival and getting a bounty of no more or less, but for generals, victory is their bonus
Guarantee of official promotion!
Now Napoleon said that he was going to fail! Oh God! If he hadn't been afraid of Napoleon's previous reputation, the generals would have stood up and asked if Napoleon had a high fever today, otherwise why would he say such nonsense!
It seemed that he could see the generals' doubts, and a strange smile appeared on Napoleon's face, but what made Napoleon feel relieved was that although some generals in the military tent looked around and even whispered to each other after they said it.
But there are still many generals sitting straight on the chairs.
These generals made Napoleon feel very pleased!
People’s thoughts are very complicated. The more people stand at the top of power, the more they are. If someone can do an unreasonable behavior and still support themselves, it is not an exaggeration to say that they are foolish and loyal!
What senior management needs is such a foolish and loyal person!
It is precisely because of this kind of foolish and loyal person that big men can firmly control the power in their hands through these people.
Napoleon's chief of staff, General Mana, the second in command of the French army, spoke.
"Stop yelling, quiet!"
Manner's words made the military tent quiet again. The generals who had whispered each other before were a little scared when they saw Napoleon sitting in the upper head. Fortunately, Napoleon did not get angry.
"After this battle, after the Austrians retreated from Antwerp, Mana, led the 1st Cavalry Division and the 3rd and 4th Infantry Division to take the lead, give the British a little bit of strength and pretend to be defeated, but remember
You must preserve your strength. After joining the Austrian army, your troops retreated along the Beverren line to the Nicolas area!"
"Hagen, after Mana retreated to Beverren with his men, you will lead your army to the top. The fifth and sixth infantry divisions must give me a day to support Beverren, and then allow me to allow it.
Your troops retreat to Nicolas.”
"Olenge, when Hagen led his army to resist the British army in Beverren, you took your men to set up an ambush circle west of Beverren, and after Hagen's troops retreat, you acted according to the opportunity.
, It is best to make the British army suffer a great loss. After these are done, your troops will also withdraw to Nicolas at the same time."
"As for orders, sir!"
When Mana, Hagen and Oulenge responded, Napoleon nodded and continued:
"In this way, because of distance, no matter how strong the British navy is, it cannot affect the Nicolas area. The British army that was lured will definitely follow and enter Nicolas all the way, except for the horses.
In addition to the three troops, our army has 26,000 troops in Nicolas to accumulate energy. After the British came recklessly, all departments must strive forward and give the British a headache!
”
"promise!"
In early December 1791, under the fierce offensive of the British army, the Austrian army lost to Antwerp and the British army vanguard entered Antwerp.
After invading Antwerp, following Ralph's orders, a cavalry division and an infantry division continued to pursue the Austrian army. For this reason, Ralph also issued a declaration of victory to the entire army of "Annihilation of the enemy!".
But the British army had just pursued the Austrian army and came to a place less than twenty miles outside the west city. Near this village called Recht, the French army suddenly appeared and caught the British army off guard, with troops and
The British army, which was not predominant, had to quickly seek help from Ralph, who had not yet entered Antwerp.
Because the commanders of the two British troops reported to Ralph at the order of their superiors to reduce their responsibilities and to obtain reinforcements as soon as possible, the British army encountered an attack from the main force of the French army west of Antwerp.
This news shocked Ralph. When he learned that the British army was about to be surrounded by French troops, Ralph quickly ordered that the main force of the central army, which had not yet completed the occupation of the entire city of Antwerp, immediately advanced westward to assist and was surrounded.
Recht's British Army.
After giving the order, Ralph himself rushed to Reht.
Under Ralph's order, the main force of the British army immediately moved to the west of Antwerp, and Antwerp threw it to 10,000 rear troops to pacify.
Apart from the besieged British troops, nearly 50,000 British troops were pressing towards Reht. When they learned that the British reinforcements were about to arrive, Mana immediately ordered the First Cavalry Division to continue to attack the British troops, and the Third
And the Fourth Infantry Division slowly retreated under the cover of the cavalry.
Of course, in order to create the illusion of defeat, Mana specially brought a lot of logistics supplies for the French army, and the Third and Fourth Infantry Divisions had to throw these supplies away indiscriminately when retreating, in addition to being quick.
In order to mislead the British army, Manna even wanted to throw the military prostitute camp with the army to the British. After all, if he did not forget to bring these military prostitutes with him, the defeat would be too fake!