Beaulieu sent out several hundred more cavalrymen to repeatedly confirm that this was not Napoleon's trap. Only then did he set out with the band and the officers from the fortress to welcome Würmser.
This was the first time he had left Mantua Fortress in more than a month.
When he saw Würmser ahead, surrounded by the Guard, he immediately spread his arms and went forward to greet him.
However, before he could utter a single word of the speech he had prepared for so long, Würmser asked with a grave expression, "Marshal Beaulieu, my scouts have found no trace of the French Army nearby?"
"Yes. Under the might of your illustrious name, they were all frightened away." Beaulieu beamed. "In fact, they began withdrawing in batches two days ago. This morning, the last group of more than three thousand also left.
"Now, the entire line from Mantua to Brescia is once again in our hands..."
"Wait." Würmser suddenly frowned and interrupted him. "You are saying the French withdrew two days ago?"
"Ah, that's right."
"You did not attempt to pursue them?"
"This..." Beaulieu looked somewhat embarrassed. "You know how cunning that fellow Napoleon is. I was worried about falling into an ambush, so..."
Würmser hurriedly had a staff officer bring over a map and asked, "Where has the Right Route Army reached now?"
The latter thought back and said, "They should have passed Limone already, General. They are expected to arrive here by the day after tomorrow at the latest."
A bad feeling suddenly rose in Würmser's heart. Shaking his head, he muttered to himself, "The French retreated too quickly. Something is not right..."
He turned to the Orderly Officer. "Contact General Kostanovich at once. Tell him to beware of a French attack."
Kostanovich was the commander of Würmser's