Four days later.
Outside Nachers Pass, in the central Erzgebirge Mountains.
Major Drouot, the French Army artillery battalion commander, turned to look at the endless Infantry Lines to the north and muttered in puzzlement, "They could have launched the attack yesterday at noon. What are they doing...?"
No wonder he was confused. More than seventy thousand troops had gathered on the north side of the pass, all standing in neat formations. They looked as though they had come for a military parade.
Nachers Pass was not particularly narrow, but at most, it could only accommodate seven or eight thousand soldiers attacking the fortress on the ridge.
Colonel Lannes rode over, glanced at the imposing artillery positions, and asked Drouot, "All the ammunition has been moved over?"
"Yes, General," the latter replied hastily, snapping to attention. "Everything was ready yesterday."
"Then open fire." Lannes gestured toward Saint Peter Fortress in the distance. "Use the densest firepower."
Drouot looked toward the Infantry standing ramrod straight in the distance. "It seems the assault troops aren't ready yet..."
Lannes smiled. "It's fine. This is only meant to frighten the Austrians."
"Ah?"
Lannes patted him on the shoulder. "General Surt is worried that the Poles won't be able to 'knock open' those two fortresses south of the pass, so we're giving them a hand."
Drouot immediately understood.
The Erzgebirge Fortress Group consisted mainly of three Bastion Forts. Saint Peter Fortress stood at the highest point of the ridge, while Theresia Fortress and Joseph Fortress lay south of the pass.
If the Polish Army could not swiftly break through the latter two fortresses, then even if the French Army charged out of the pass, it would still come under their crossfire.
With General Surt deploying so many troops north of the fortresses, the Austrian Army in