Life of Being a Crown Prince in France

Desai ordered without hesitation: “The Fourth Infantry Regiment is to launch a counterattack immediately. The Fifth Regiment should outflank from both wings. The cavalry squadron is to stand by behind the camp.”

The order officer departed to carry out the orders, while the aide-de-camp hesitated slightly and said, “Commander, there are only two companies of the Austrian Army, perhaps we don’t need to deploy so many troops…”

Desai asserted decisively: “If the enemy dares to provoke us, there must be an ambush. We must give our all!”

In reality, the so-called “enemy forces” were just over 70 Intelligence Bureau agents carrying numerous flags and war drums, from afar appearing much more numerous.

Soon, the Corsican Legion launched a full-scale attack, quickly pursuing the enemy forces.

Along the way, soldiers constantly picked up Austrian flags and weapons, showing signs of a failed ambush.

Several hours later, the French Army discovered the Austrians’ temporary camp, just as Colonel Desai had predicted, which seemed to have been occupied by over two thousand soldiers.

Of course, these had all been prearranged by the Intelligence Bureau.

Following the script, Desai solemnly berated the Austrian conspiracy to attack the Udine garrison, proclaiming they must all be killed to uphold the dignity of the French Army.

However, they reached the border of Venice and Austria without catching up to the enemy.

Just as the aide-de-camp was considering whether to suggest a retreat to the commander, a sudden burst of cannon fire erupted from the forests ahead.

“The Austrians are ambushing us here!” Desai seemed utterly enraged, shouting, “Have the scattered soldier camp attack from the flank, and watch out for enemy forces on the side.”

He kept the cavalry in the rear, fearing they might actually catch up with the “acting” Austrians.

He turned to the aide-de-camp again: “What’s the casualty report?”

The latter promptly sent someone to inquire within each company and quickly returned to report: “Commander, it seems no one was hit.”

Desai silently cursed, thinking these Austrian artillerymen were simply useless, having fired several salvos without scoring a single hit.

According to the script, the French Army was supposed to suffer over a hundred casualties from a surprise artillery attack, so he could then order the furious soldiers to besiege Klagenfurt Fortress.

But with no casualties, the effect was considerably less impactful.

Ten minutes later, the cannon fire ceased. The French soldiers ahead reported that they had taken over the enemy’s artillery position and saw roughly a battalion of Austrian infantry fleeing north.

Desai forced himself to order: “The damned Austrians killed our comrades, we cannot let them go! The whole army, continue the pursuit!”

Fortunately, the soldiers of the Corsican Legion assumed other companies were hit by the artillery—since the entire front stretched over two kilometers, those on one end had no idea what was happening on the other—thus they crossed the border line under the officers’ orders, pursuing northward.

By the following afternoon, Desai could already see the outlines of Klagenfurt Fortress.

He immediately rode past the soldiers, pointing north and shouting: “The Austrians who attacked us have taken refuge in the fortress. If they don’t surrender them, we will break in and seize them ourselves!”

One hour later, the Corsican Legion’s artillery began a fierce bombardment on Klagenfurt Fortress, while the infantry formed dozens of columns ready to launch a strong assault at any moment.

However, to Desai’s confusion, the Austrian soldiers inside the fortress seemed paralyzed with fear, as they made no attempt to return fire.

This gave him the feeling of punching into cotton; the anticipated escalation of skirmishes and the enraged soldiers storming the fortress did not occur.

He was just about to forcefully order an attack when he suddenly heard the familiar sound of a military bugle from the east. It was the French Army’s way of signaling.

Moments later, a courier rushed over, saluted him, and said: “Commander, Colonel Lefevre wishes to see you, and asks you to immediately order a halt to the assault.”

Lefevre? Desai’s mind buzzed; how could he be here?

He immediately sensed something was wrong, ignoring the courier, and gestured to the aide-de-camp: “Retreat! Withdraw to Udine immediately!”

No matter what, he must not be trapped inside Austrian territory.

However, Lefevre’s courier produced a document, raising it high above his head, shouting to the surrounding officers: “This is a General Staff order. As of now, Colonel Lefevre will command the Corsican Legion.”

Desai gritted his teeth and barked to the aide-de-camp: “Ignore him, retreat!”

Just then, an officer from the rear hurried over, urgently saying, “Commander, the Royal Third Infantry Division is demanding we lay down our weapons.”

Desai was taken aback: “Where are they?”

“Right, right behind us.”

Following the deployment of several hundred soldiers from the Third Infantry Division to stabilize the situation, Leao proficiently maneuvered two thousand Austrian soldiers to trap the Corsican Legion in the middle from both flanks.

Twenty minutes later.

Desai looked at Lefevre, feigning anger: “Colonel, my legion has been repeatedly attacked by the Austrians, which is why I pursued them here. You have no reason to stop me.”

Lefevre smiled: “An Austrian attack? How many soldiers did you lose?”

“Casualties?” Desai hesitated, “There were…definitely many casualties.”

Lefevre turned to Desai’s aide-de-camp: “Please tell me about your casualties from the attack.”

The latter wiped cold sweat and whispered: “I-I think there were no casualties.”

Of course, there were no casualties, because the ones bombarding the Corsican Legion at the Austrian border were actually the Third Infantry Division, dressed in Austrian uniforms.

Lefevre ordered Leao to gather all the fortress’s soldiers together, not allowing a single one to leave.

The Third Infantry Division always targeted empty spaces when firing, creating a grand impression but not hitting anyone.

Lefevre raised his voice: “Colonel Desai, it appears you are lying.

“Now, please honestly explain why your forces are on Austrian territory?”

“I…”

Desai inwardly cursed the incompetent Austrian artillerymen repeatedly, now it was indeed hard to explain—a surprise attack, yet not a single casualty?

Lefevre signaled to the guard beside him: “Please escort Colonel Desai back to Paris immediately. Oh, confiscate all items on him to be held as evidence.”

“Yes, sir.”

After Desai was taken away, Lefevre turned to Desai’s aide-de-camp, smiling: “I can offer you a chance to reduce your sentence at the military tribunal.”

The latter immediately replied with a trembling voice: “Yes, please instruct me.”

“Please write a letter as Colonel Desai, stating the Klagenfurt Fortress is occupied. Await further instructions.”

Over half an hour later, the aide-de-camp finally finished the letter.

Lefevre sealed the letter with Desai’s seal and wax in a message tube, then summoned Desai’s order officer: “I order you to make a trip to the Mantua Fortress and deliver this letter to General Napoleon.”

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