The staff officer cautiously confirmed again, "You mean including the reserve force?"
Napoleon pointed his riding crop at the open ground directly facing the wooden bridge. "That's right, including the reserve force. Even the Engineers Company is to assemble there."
"Yes, Commander."
Half an hour later, nearly ten thousand French Army soldiers stood in three neat lines of Horizontal Formation along the Po River.
On their left flank, the Artillery Company's fourteen cannon began pouring shells onto the opposite bank. However, because the distance was too great, quite a few shells splashed into the river.
Yet the Austrian Army on the east bank could see only flashes of fire beneath the thick smoke, while thunderous cannon fire rolled in their ears. The battlefield's grim, killing aura was absolutely at its peak.
Before long, Victor and Captain Grouchy, the acting battalion commander of the cavalry battalion, arrived before Napoleon one after the other.
"commander, the Grenadier Company and the cavalry battalion have assembled." Victor snapped to attention and saluted, then glanced at the display along the riverbank. "Are we launching the general assault?"
Grouchy added nervously, "But the Ships for crossing the river have not yet been fully prepared. If we force an assault now, it will..."
"No, no one said we were forcing a crossing." Napoleon waved a hand to interrupt him, then looked at Victor.
"Major Victor, have the cavalry and Grenadiers prepare for a Forced March.
"Hmm, perhaps we should give General Melas sufficient respect. Draw another thousand veteran Infantrymen from the regiment to accompany us."
"Huh? A Forced March?" Victor froze for a moment, but immediately answered loudly, "Yes, I'll go at once!"
Napoleon watched the two depart, then turned to several civilian officers beside him. He quickly selected one of them. "Lieutenant Marcelin, I recall that