Bad News, Good News

These shells, falling at extremely high curves and therefore almost impossible to ricochet effectively, were the shrapnel shells that Joseph had prepared for Napoleon —a crucial weapon that would once again transform the role of artillery. Initially, Joseph had grand ambitions, attempting to bypass these shells and directly develop high-explosive shells. However, he immediately encountered several difficulties:

The first challenge is the stability of the shell. High-explosive shells must ensure the fuse lands on the ground, which ideally requires a rifled cannon. However, rifled cannons require a large amount of steel, and steel requires...

However, if all else fails, using tail fin stabilization is an option. But this raises two issues: one is the reliability of the trigger fuse, which seems difficult to solve in the short term; the other is an old problem—insufficient production of gunpowder and explosives. Therefore, shrapnel shells, which require less explosives, became the alternative. But even this alternative once again changed the role of artillery in the war.

After the Minié Rifle appeared, artillery fell into a very awkward situation—solid shot could not hit the scattered skirmishers; and with grapeshot, the effective range of the grapeshot fired by the cannon was not as far as that of the Minié Rifle. Thus, the cannon changed from an offensive weapon that could be placed at the forefront of the battle to a support weapon.

However, the advent of shrapnel shells allowed artillery to regain the advantage of range.

A shrapnel shell is essentially a metal barrel filled with shrapnel. It's fired from a cannon and then explodes at a suitable height, scattering the shrapnel inside. This is a type of winged shrapnel, and with the support of specially manufactured cannons capable of firing at a 45-degree angle, it can even travel farther than solid shot. Its curved trajectory also allows it to be used to bypass obstacles and strike targets behind them.

In addition, shrapnel can play a special tactical role: isolation. When soldiers on both sides have already started close combat at the forefront, artillery is normally not useful. After all, this is not a video game, and the artillery fire we fire is not fireballs with friend-or-foe identification capabilities dropped by mages in a game.

However, at this time, troops equipped with shrapnel can, with the assistance of hot air balloon observation posts, use shrapnel to bypass the intense hand-to-hand combat and directly strike the enemy's rear ranks, hindering enemy reinforcements. If, in the struggle for key positions, our reinforcements can continuously reach the enemy while enemy reinforcements are suppressed, then the outcome of the battle will naturally be decided.

French Army shrapnel shells were raining down on the Russian reinforcements. Compared to the previous Claymore Mine, these falling shells were more like hailstones, and the unfortunate Russian soldiers caught in the hail were knocked down in large numbers, like wheat under a hailstorm.

Under these circumstances, Suvorov had no choice but to order a retreat, but the retreat was extremely difficult. Of the soldiers who had attacked, less than one-fifth were able to withdraw.

In this battle, the Russian army lost approximately 8,000 men. While this number may not seem particularly large compared to the Russian army's total strength of nearly 60,000, these were all combat personnel. In fact, combat personnel generally make up only about half of an army's total strength. For a Russian army of 60,000, the loss of 8,000 men is no small number.

Moreover, these 8,000 men were the most elite troops in the Russian army. In a sense, this battle completely destroyed the Russian army's offensive capabilities. Now, the Russian army no longer has the strength to launch an attack on the France positions.

Even more devastatingly, this battle shattered the morale of the Russian army. Faced with the technology of France, which was considered "first in Europe" and perhaps even "first in the world," the Russian army, from top to bottom, was filled with a sense of defeat. Even the old marshal privately complained, "Why is there such a huge gap between our country's science and technology and France's? How are we supposed to fight a war like this!" Later, in a letter to a friend's grandson, encouraging him to study mathematics, physics, and chemistry well and become a scientist, the old marshal said:

"Alyosha, I know you'd rather be a general. But your grandfather and I both feel you're more talented in science. And, studying science well, adding another scientist to Russia, would be far more beneficial than becoming a Russia. You must understand, science and technology are the primary fighting force..."

If the Russian army had lost confidence, the Austrian army was even more so. They already suffered from a severe Napoleon, and although it was the Russia who were being attacked this time—because their morale was low after facing Napoleon, the Austrian army was simply incapable of undertaking an offensive mission. Even the Russia, after carefully observing the Austrian army's condition, unanimously concluded. "These men cannot be used in the most arduous breakthrough phase of the operation; otherwise, they may become an obvious weakness that the enemy can exploit."

So this time, the Austria didn't get beaten up, but they watched the Russia get beaten up the whole time. In this battle, the Russia' tactical level and fighting spirit were clearly superior to the Austria', a fact the Austria were well aware of. And the result? The Russia went up, Russia came back down. After watching the France brutally beat the Russia, the Austria became even more frightened, and their morale plummeted even more severely than the Russia '.

Although the Russia had lost the courage to continue their assault, they still had the courage to maintain a defensive posture against the French Army. The Austria, however, had lost even that courage. For several days in a row, Austria generals approached Archduke John, hoping he would propose an immediate withdrawal.

Although Archduke John was not particularly skilled in military strategy (in fact, his ability to adapt to changing circumstances was lacking), he still understood the basic principles. He knew very well that, given the current state of the allied forces, a safe retreat in front of the enemy was simply impossible. If they were to retreat, they would be pursued relentlessly by the France, and their entire army would most likely collapse.

He also knew that his generals couldn't possibly be unaware of these principles. The fact that even these generals were making such demands that violated military principles showed just how low the morale of the Austria had fallen.

"Your Highness, we can propose to the Russia that we split our camp into two parts, with our troops moving to another camp in the northeast. That way, if the France attack, we can support each other from different angles. Then, while the Russia aren't paying attention, we can quickly run away..." Some shameless fellows have even come up with such a scheme.

To appease everyone, Archduke John had to say to them, "The Britain and Prussia have now achieved a major victory in the north, France will most likely have to recall Napoleon's troops to defend Paris. If we can hold out a little longer, the France will probably have no choice but to retreat. And if we run first, will the Russia necessarily not run? Then everyone will run, and in the end, no one will be able to escape!"

Archduke John's prediction of the situation was quite accurate. On the same day that Napoleon repelled the Russian general offensive, the Anglo-Prussian Allied Forces also launched a general offensive against Liege. Although the French Army resisted bravely, their attack made significant progress, capturing several important positions. The French Army defenses in Liege were on the verge of collapse, and the fall of Liege was almost certain.

Once Liege falls, there will be no defensible terrain all the way to Verdun. And if Verdun falls, Paris will be directly exposed to enemy attacks.

Under these circumstances, the Directory desperately issued orders to Napoleon, demanding that he return to defend Paris; at the same time, it called on the people of Paris to rise up and organize Volunteer Army, just as in 1792, to defend their homeland.

But the people of Paris did not stand up as they had in 1992—times had changed. In the words of Aunt Sophie, Joseph's former maid, "Before the revolution, I had no bread to eat; after the revolution, I still have no bread to eat—wasn't the revolution a waste?"

Members of the Directory, members of parliament, and other respectable people amassed fortunes. But the common people gained little real benefit; for them, the revolution that had made them shed their blood was truly in vain. If that was the case, why should the people be made to shed blood and sacrifice themselves again?

Moreover, in 1992, the Duke of Brunswick made a very untimely threat to massacre the people of Paris. This threat rallied the Paris populace and became the best mobilization order for the revolutionary government at the time. But now, the Britain and Prussia, having learned their lesson, no longer make such threats. Without their assistance, the Directory really couldn't mobilize the people.

Fortunately, the conscription and mobilization mechanism that Carnot had worked so hard to build over the years had gradually improved, and through conscription, the Directory had managed to assemble more than 100,000 troops. However, the receding tide of the French Revolution was beginning to show its consequences—these soldiers, while far superior in military skills to the Volunteer Army of '92, were far less motivated.

In this respect, Paris is indeed in imminent danger.

That afternoon, Napoleon received a new letter from Joseph, which brought him bad news for France but good news for the Bonaparte Family: "The Anglo-Prussian Allied Forces have captured Liege, the French Army has suffered heavy losses, and General Joubert has retreated to Verdun."

Upon receiving the letter, Napoleon was overjoyed and immediately dispatched a military envoy to the Russo-Prussian Allied Forces to return the wounded to the Russian army and to request a ceasefire and peace talks with the Russia.