Chapter 787
Chapter 788 “Bumpy Harvest”
In front of the Pavia position, Napoleon raised his hat to Marmont from a distance as a sign of approval: "Your outstanding performance simply surprised me, Auguste.
"I didn't contact you, but you accurately selected the best interception position and gave the enemy a fatal blow.
"I was expecting a tough battle and now, haha, we can sit down and have a cup of coffee."
Marmont seemed a little guilty and urged his horse forward quickly: "I just did what I should do. Well, actually, the enemy is vulnerable...
"By the way, I heard from the captured officer that you have successfully captured Milan?"
He is not being modest. In fact, his main troops are on their way to Milan.
He had discovered that Reptayi suddenly retreated, guessing that the latter was going to reinforce Milan, so he ordered his troops to pursue eastward.
But he was also worried that Reptay was going to Lodi to intercept Colonel Buyanaba - if Napoleon's assault force moved slowly, it was possible that it had not crossed the Po River at this time.
So he was worried and led 2,500 soldiers to rush to Lodi's aid along the east bank of the Po River.
As a result, as soon as he arrived north of Pavia, he found that the Austrian army was gathering here. At first he thought he was ambushed, but he didn't expect the enemy army to collapse at the first touch.
Then more than 2,000 people in Marmont captured more than 4,000 Austrian soldiers gorgeously.
Little did he know that after seeing him, the Leptai Army decided that it was the main French army coming from Milan to attack them.
This army had been severely beaten by Napoleon in Toulon before, and its morale was low. Even if it was so frightened that it knelt down and surrendered, Reptay could not stop him.
"Yes, I have successfully controlled Milan."
Napoleon looked around and asked with some confusion: "Why are there so few soldiers? Where is our main force?"
"They are on their way to Milan, Commander."
When Napoleon asked about the situation, he immediately said to Marmont:
"Send someone to catch up with them immediately and ask them to wait outside Milan."
"Yes, Commander. But why do you do this?"
Napoleon looked at the queue of prisoners of war, which was a kilometer long, and smiled:
"We need a grand entrance ceremony."
Two days later, rhythmic cannon fire rang out outside Milan, followed by military music.
On this day, all shops and factories in Milan were required to close. Tens of thousands of citizens gathered on both sides of the road in the south of the city, peering into the distance.
Soon, a group of majestic French cavalry held the golden fleur-de-lis flag, the flag of the Montpellier Legion, and the flag of the Moulins Legion in order, and walked through the crowd in a neat queue.
Behind them, a French infantry regiment carried an Auguste style cap gun, loudly scolded a large number of dejected prisoners, and slowly walked into the city.
The prisoners were all wearing tattered Austrian military uniforms, and some had blood stains on their bodies and faces - Napoleon specifically ordered them not to clean them.
Onlookers began throwing clods of earth at the Austrian soldiers. As God testifies, this was not a commission arranged by Napoleon in advance. Before Tuo could take action, the Italian could no longer bear it.
Soon, clods of soil were flying everywhere, even mixed with excrement, causing the prisoners to scream in agony.
In the end, it was French soldiers who came forward to maintain order, and the citizens of Milan stopped. Otherwise, many prisoners would have been killed.
There were four to five thousand captured Austrian troops, and they walked for an hour and a half before they all entered Milan.
After someone quickly cleared the debris on the road, a loud sound of horns sounded everywhere.
A short officer, wearing a white hussar uniform and a three-cornered hat, passed in front of people with his head held high, surrounded by hundreds of Guards cavalry, as well as a large number of drummers and organ players.
Someone took the lead in shouting, "Long live His Majesty the King of France!"
"Glory and victory belong to General Buwanaba!"
"Praise be to the great French Heavenly Army!"
"Welcome the liberators..."
Well, it was Napoleon who arranged it this time.
The cry soon resounded throughout Milan, and people were as excited as if their own army had defeated the Austrians, singing and dancing in the streets to celebrate the victory.
At this moment, everyone in Milan knew that Habsburg rule over Milan came to an end.
In Milan City Hall, a grand banquet kicked off.
Napoleon and more than a dozen French officers sat at the top. Milan's prestigious nobles and wealthy businessmen gathered here, hoping to become familiar with the French.
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Napoleon listened to the elegant music, glanced at the oil paintings on the wall of the hall, turned his head and said to the Deputy Speaker of the Milan Parliament: "I am really touched by the enthusiasm of my friends in Milan, especially the donations you have provided for my soldiers. Oh, a full 2 million francs.
"You are truly the most generous people I have ever seen! I swear, I will use my life to ensure the safety of Milan."
Milan Deputy Speaker Giuseppella was startled when he heard this.
There were indeed donations to the French army, and it was customary for new conquerors to offer a little "heart" when they entered the city.
But the amount is wrong. He subconsciously said: "Um, did you remember correctly? It should be 400,000 francs..."
Napoleon's voice turned cold instantly: "Oh? I remember clearly that it was 3 million. Could it be that someone embezzled the donation? It seems that I have to ask the military police to investigate it in Milan."
Giusepella's heart suddenly twitched. The meaning was obvious. If there were no 3 million francs, many people would definitely be thrown into prison.
At present, the Governor of Milan, Ferdinand, and the Austrian Speaker of the Parliament had fled to Vienna, and Giusepella was the highest executive of Milan. He knew that if he could not satisfy the French, they would definitely replace him with an obedient person, and he would most likely become the "embezzler".
He hurriedly smiled and said, "Oh, I mean there are still many donations being counted, and the total amount is indeed 3 million francs. The day after tomorrow, all donations will be sent to your headquarters before noon."
Napoleon nodded with satisfaction and continued, "You know, our army came from the far west of the Alps for the freedom of Milan, and now there is a shortage of logistical supplies.
"I hope you can prepare a month's supply for my soldiers. Oh, about 15,000 people, including food, wine, oats and gunpowder. A week should be enough, right? "
Giusepella forced a smile: "One week, of course, I promise you will see enough supplies by then."
Napoleon also smiled and whispered in his ear: "By the way, I heard that Raphael's "The Marriage of the Virgin" is in the Governor's Palace?"
"Yes, yes." Giusepella nodded and continued very politely, "It should belong to a collector with taste like you."
"Oh, and Michelangelo's..."
