Victor cautiously reminded him, "Commander, at present, the Austro-Sardinian Army in Alexandria numbers more than 53,000 men.
"Even after we join forces with General Dimoubin, we will have fewer than 40,000 soldiers.
"Yes, I know the enemy's morale may not be very high, and we would certainly win in a field battle. But if Melas holes up in Alexandria, a forced assault there would inflict enormous casualties on our army..."
Dimoubin's losses during his month and a half of holding Genoa had been considerable—when Melas withdrew, only 25,000 of the nearly 30,000 French Army soldiers originally there still retained combat capability.
Including Napoleon's troops, they had roughly 39,000 men in all, leaving them at a considerable numerical disadvantage against the Austro-Sardinian Army.
Alexandria was, after all, a major military stronghold in Northern Italy. The Bormida River lay to its east, while the Tanaro River was on its northwest side, making it exceptionally easy to establish defenses.
It would be difficult enough to capture the place with superior numbers, let alone with inferior ones.
Napoleon fiddled with the wooden pointer he was using on the map, not even raising his head as he said, "No, Melas will never choose to remain behind his walls.
"His connection with Austria proper has been cut off. Before long, he will even face shortages of weapons and ammunition. Yet our army can receive reinforcements from France in an unending stream.
"So, while he still has a numerical advantage, and while the ammunition replenished during the siege of Genoa has not yet run out, he will certainly take the initiative and attack, creating the strategic situation most favorable to himself.
"Then, once the Würmser Corps arrives, he will coordinate with it to launch a counteroffensive against Milan."
The officers immediately exchanged astonished glances. "The Würmser Corps?"