"As for Lieutenant Colonel Desaix's troops," Napoleon said, lightly shaking the reins, "did you think they had truly been carrying out sniping missions in Verona all this time?"
Verona was a city north of Mantua. More than a month earlier, Napoleon had sent Desaix there with over twenty thousand soldiers, putting on the appearance of delaying Würmser's reinforcements.
Augereau asked in surprise, "Weren't they? But Desaix Corps did indeed slow Würmser's advance south."
"Of course not. Three days after the Austrian reinforcements chose to bypass Verona, I had Lieutenant Colonel Desaix maneuver east of Mantua along the Adige River."
The Adige River was Italy's second-largest river and lay north of Mantua.
Verona, meanwhile, was the most important crossing along the middle reaches of the Adige River. Controlling it could severely disrupt supplies sent to Mantua from Austria.
To bypass it, Würmser had no choice but to cross the river at Trento in the upper reaches of the Adige, while the Left Route Army swung around from the river's southern stretch toward Mantua.
Of course, if the French Army relied too heavily on Verona and let down its guard, the Austrian Army coming around the flank could suddenly encircle them.
But no one had expected Napoleon to abandon Verona, this strategic stronghold, outright.
West of Lake Garda.
Würmser sat astride his horse, brimming with confidence as he painted a blueprint of victory for the officers beside him.
Yesterday, Beaulieu had already submitted a report to Vienna. Its contents were roughly: "Würmser and I repelled tens of thousands of French troops, successfully lifted the siege of Mantua, captured a large quantity of military supplies, and are currently continuing the pursuit of the French Army."
Würmser admitted the report contained some exaggeration, but that no longer mattered. The victory he was about