King's Landing in France

Chapter 230 The Beginning

At this time, An Ning was in his headquarters, reading the enemy report compiled by Berthier.

Berthier invented a distinguishing marker, distinguishing enemy troops verified by reliable sources from enemy troops inferred from rumors.

An Ning: "La Salle did a good job. The reconnaissance was very detailed. In addition, Berthier, you also did a good job. You were able to report so many enemy situations to Jiji."

Berthier replied modestly: "I just did what a chief of staff should do."

An Ning nodded, and carefully observed the enemy's situation on the map.

"The attacking enemy is coming from the third line. The first line has already caught fire at Sedan and Napoleon. The second line will soon meet Verdun, where Bernadotte is waiting for them. The problem lies in the third line. "An Ning looked at the enemy's logo on the map and performed a picture-seeing speech.

An Ning himself was very grateful to Berthier. If he hadn't slept only three hours a day and integrated the enemy's intelligence so well, it would have been impossible for him to grasp the situation so easily.

An Ning already understood why there was such a big difference between when the emperor had Berthier as chief of staff and when he didn't.

But An Ning still had to pretend to rely on his own military accomplishment and talent to make a judgment.

However, he immediately relied on his military common sense to choose a preset position for sniping the enemy's third army.

An Ning pointed at the bend of the Marne River with a pointer: "This is the place. We need to block the enemy's troops at this position. If we can't stop here, the enemy's army will break through to the plain between the Marne River and the Seine River. With our army now With a high level of training, it is very difficult to defeat them in field battles, and it is almost only a matter of numbers."

Berthier: "The troops we brought over from Marseilles can carry out field battles. This one enemy won't be too many, because the logistics can't support it."

An Ning thought for a while, then shook his head: "No, the troops brought over from Marseilles will be used as a reserve team for the battle. This is our pinnacle of stability and cannot be easily moved. How many new troops can we set off immediately?"

Berthier: "The reorganized army has 7000 people. It is well armed, with uniforms and flags, but there are not enough military musicians. We are still urgently training military musicians..."

An Ning: "Send a call to the city of Paris, there are so many musicians in Paris, the Republic needs them!"

Berthier: "Draw the musician...to the battlefield? No, I'm against it!"

An Ning persuaded his chief of staff in this way, and Beethoven pushed the door in: "I am willing to join the army as a military musician!"

An Ning: Don't!You are so old, how the hell should I explain it to future generations!I can't bear this responsibility!
Beethoven plausibly said: "The flag of the Republic represents equality, fraternity and freedom! Equality is the first, and I am willing to go to the battlefield as an ordinary soldier!"

An Ning: "Well, it's like this, you..."

"Even General Frost personally charged in times of crisis. I have been looking forward to such a day!"

After Beethoven finished speaking, David, who came in behind him, said, "He has long since realized that there are not enough military musicians, so he planned this day. Because of this, he just eavesdropped on you outside..."

An Ning frowned: "But..."

You are a music saint, your death is a huge loss to the history of human music... Damn, I can't say this!
Beethoven said enthusiastically: "And, as I know, the first time Your Excellency went to the battlefield was as a military musician! At that time, Your Excellency General did not receive any military education—I mean, except for the training of military musicians." Military education—just as an ordinary military musician, participated in the battle, and then won the medal!"

An Ning was a little helpless: "Why, you also want to rescue a noble lady who disguised herself as a man?"

Beethoven smiled: "If there is, then of course I warmly welcome it! As a musician, I cannot refuse such a romantic unfolding!"

An Ning raised his forehead, what else can he say at this time.

Maybe Beethoven came back from the battlefield alive, and he would burst out with amazing creativity and write great works that had never appeared in history.

And... just defending across the river, it wouldn't be so unfortunate, would Beethoven die?

It would be better to say that sending him out now saves him from being sent out later in field battles.We can get Beethoven back by playing one or two games now, and we can give Beethoven a job of "composing music that can inspire people and reflect the heroism of the frontline soldiers", and put him in the rear from now on.

So An Ning made a decision: "Okay, that's what you said, I can only wish you victory and return."

Beethoven smiled and said, "Thank you. With the general's blessing, I feel more at ease. To be honest, although I have seen the battlefield, since I decided to become an ordinary military musician, I have been unable to sleep well. I do it every day." Nightmare, once you close your eyes, it’s a terrifying nightmare assembled from the tragic fragments you’ve seen on the battlefield in the past.”

An Ning: "Then why don't you compose a song to describe the horror you face?"

Beethoven: "I will! Of course I will. But that will be after I return from the battlefield. That's right, Caifeng, this is the real Caifeng, and I will definitely write shocking pieces!"

No no, even if you go shopping by the Seine every day and look at the moon at night, you can still write shocking tunes.

An Ning smiled wryly, and held Beethoven's hand: "Then... I'm busy with military affairs, so I won't send you off. Go find Lazarcano yourself and ask him to incorporate you into the army that is about to go out."

David: "I'll go see him off. Hey, I'm a painter. If I want to join the army, I can only be a scout and draw maps."

Maps of this era are basically hand-drawn.

An Ning: "Your duty is to follow me and draw the magnificent battle scenes. These are precious historical records."

David nodded and left with Beethoven.

After the musicians and painters left, Berthier asked, "Do I need to arrange Ludwig's troops as a reserve team?"

An Ning: "No, he will find out, he is so smart."

Then he looked down at the map again: "Now there is another question, who will command this battle?"

Berthier: "It would be nice if Davout was here."

An Ning: "He doesn't know how to clone himself. Well, after much deliberation, I still have to do it myself."

Berthier: "You personally command, which greatly increases the morale of our army. In defensive warfare, this is a huge advantage."

An Ning curled her lips after hearing this, thinking, at least my morale halo is on.

In this way, An Ning selected the battlefield for the battle relying on careful reconnaissance and analysis of the enemy's situation, as well as the most basic military common sense.

This was the beginning of a series of battles that followed.

Later, war historians collectively referred to this series of battles as the "Three Rivers Campaign", because this campaign took place between the Marne, Seine and Somme rivers.

(End of this chapter)