Overlooking Lombardy

Napoleon looked toward the white-capped peaks in the distance. Without hesitation, he squeezed his horse's flanks and headed up the slope, turning to the quartermaster staff officer beside him.

"Don't worry about supplies. Have you forgotten the benevolent Saint Bernard Monastery up in the mountains?"

He meant the monastery built halfway up the Alps in the 11th century by the cultivator Saint Bernard de Menthon.[Note 1] After centuries of repeated expansion, it had grown to a considerable scale and could provide provisions for several thousand soldiers.

The quartermaster staff officer froze for a moment, then hurried after him. "Commander, um... I must remind you that the Crown Prince has strictly forbidden us from 'requisitioning supplies' in Italian towns."

So-called "requisitioning supplies" was merely a civilized term for letting soldiers loose to plunder.

Napoleon smiled slyly.

"Yes, we won't requisition supplies in Italy. But His Highness never said we couldn't accept gifts from the monastery.

"Besides, Major Odorik isn't here. Surely there are some matters where we can be a little flexible?"

Odorik was the Military Affairs Supervisor Joseph had sent to oversee logistical dispatches. At the moment, he was fighting alongside Dimoubin around Diego.

The quartermaster staff officer was still trying to dissuade him. "Look, even if we receive help from the clerics, our provisions will still be insufficient. The monastery's supplies can at most sustain the army for a week, and once we reach Bard Fortress, we'll likely face a rather prolonged siege. So we should wait until Bress's supplies arrive before..."

"You needn't worry about the fortress." Napoleon looked utterly assured. "On that matter, the Crown Prince has already 'solved' it for me.

"And setting out two days earlier will give us greater strategic initiative."

Historically, after the French Army crossed the Great Saint Bernard Pass, they had