Seeing that no one spoke, Marquess Wellesley continued in a loud voice:
"The reason Blücher Legion was to enter Switzerland was so it could break through Mantua Fortress as quickly as possible.
"And yet now, we are discussing how to conduct operations in Switzerland!
"With St. Gotthard Pass already under French control, even if we completely occupied Switzerland, it would not help the overall war situation in the slightest."
Austria's Chief of Staff, Werneck, and several other officers immediately nodded in agreement. "You are absolutely right. At present, we should be concentrating our forces even more to break through Mantua Fortress!"
"We cannot sink into the mire of Switzerland!"
"Transfer Kosakoff's Corps to Verona as well..."
Wellesley sighed. "No. The core factor behind our choice of Northern Italy as the main battlefield was that one corps would enter Lombardy and launch an attack on Mantua from the south.
"And that factor no longer exists."
He turned his head and glanced toward the south. "What we will face is the Mincio River, and the stretches of Bastion Forts on both banks."
He raised the stack of battle reports again. "I believe everyone already knows that the French are carrying out a general mobilization. They have even issued a law of 'Freedom and Equality' for it!"
Someone added in a low voice, "It is the Declaration of Human Rights."
"Correct, the Declaration of Human Rights." Wellesley nodded. "If we continue dragging things out at Mantua, the enemy forces we face will only grow more and more numerous.
"Forgive my bluntness, but it is very possible that we will never be able to achieve a breakthrough here!"
The Duke of York gave a dry cough and signaled with his eyes for him to watch his wording.
After frowning in thought for a moment,