Holy Roman Empire - Chapter 84
Chapter 84: Chapter 84: Selling Out Teammates
Translator: 549690339
In the dead of night, mournful howls filled the Sardinian camp.
Falsifying military reports was a court-martial offense, and since they had claimed heavy losses, they now had to show them.
“No poison, no husband; kindness does not rule the troops.” Having climbed to his position, Major General Will was naturally not the kind to be soft-hearted.
To provide an explanation to his superiors, Major General Will had no choice but to intensify the attack in the afternoon.
The veterans of the Kingdom of Sardinia were indeed brave, their sense of national belonging far stronger than that of the People of Lombardy. The battle that afternoon was much more tragic.
After tallying the casualties, Major General Will waved his hand broadly, attributing all the battle damage to the morning’s fight—over three hundred dead and more than eight hundred injured, just about qualifying as heavy losses.
The high-ranking officers of the Second Division, headed by Major General Will, could now account for their actions, but this had brought morale to an all-time low.
Without a comparison, there can be no hurt. Italians are good at learning, especially the old hands in the military, who quickly picked up on the advanced experiences of their peers.
With many knowing, secrecy was out of the question. The “Survival Guide on the Battlefield” spread rapidly throughout the Kingdom of Sardinia’s military.
Perhaps it was the strong commercial atmosphere that had these soldiers gladly accepting this lifesaving manual for the battlefield.
Along with the bizarre theories Franz had concocted, they too gained wide acceptance. At some point, a saying emerged in the Sardinian military—do not die for the capitalists.
Italy had been divided for so long that ordinary people had forgotten they were Italians, replaced by identifiers like People of Sardinian, Genoese, People of Lombardy…
What good was unification for them? It seemed that the capitalists gained the most, with a unified Italy providing a larger market for exploitation. But these soldiers, who bled and sacrificed for unification, gained nothing!
Nationalism had awakened in the Kingdom of Sardinia, as had assorted chaotic thoughts. Italians, being given to contemplation, started to consider their own interests more when thinking led to overthinking.
Unbeknownst to them, the Sardinian military was undergoing a dramatic transformation; bravery and fighting prowess were becoming things of their past.
It was a tradition in Italy, colloquially referred to as “three-minute enthusiasm.” Once the cost in blood and sacrifice became apparent, their passion cooled. The “Survival Guide on the Battlefield” just gave them an excuse to convince themselves.
At the Venice Sardinian Army Headquarters, Marshal Badoglio was still unaware that his forces were undergoing a glamorous metamorphosis; right now, he was troubled by a plea for help from the Tuscans.
He did appreciate the proactive efforts of the Tuscan Army; such zealots were needed as cannon fodder in the war against Austria.
“Frontline dispatch: The Tuscan Army is under attack by the main forces of Austria. They are requesting our aid. What do you think we should do?”
A middle-aged officer, frowning, said, “Your Excellency Marshal, the Tuscans are about thirty kilometers away from us. Taking into account the time it took to deliver the message, the battle would have started half a day ago.
Even if we march now, at the earliest we’ll reach the battlefield in a day’s time. Whether we can make it or not is one thing, but it will disrupt our military deployment, making future battles more difficult!” Clearly, he was not in favor of rescuing the Tuscans.
Allies, aren’t they there to be betrayed?
Besides, since when has the Kingdom of Sardinia ever been true allies with Tuscany?
If the Kingdom of Sardinia wanted to unify the Italian Area, they would sooner or later come into conflict with the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. Isn’t seeking their help the same as aiding the enemy?
“Jackson, this isn’t good! If we don’t send troops to aid the Tuscans, it will cause very serious diplomatic troubles. The Papal State and the Kingdom of Naples will also feel distressed, and we would have to fight this war all alone!” another middle-aged military officer objected.
“Cansandos, this war was always on our home ground; these allies are unreliable.
The Kingdom of Naples did indeed send forty thousand troops, but where is this large army? Have they sent even a regiment as the vanguard?
The Tuscans are indeed very active, but we all understand that their commander is a self-righteous fool without the slightest military sense.
What can we expect from such a pig-headed ally if not to add to the chaos?” Jackson’s middle-aged officer countered.
Marshal Badoglio nodded. Reliance on allies was no longer a military option; Austria’s influence among the Italian countries was too significant, and even if they were pressurised by public opinion to send troops, it would still be half-hearted.
Now that there has been a change in the Italian Area, a Conservative restoration is underway in the Papal State and the Kingdom of Naples, and who knows when these allies might withdraw.
“You all make valid points. Let us send a message to the Tuscans to hold their ground and wait for assistance; we will send relief forces as soon as possible!”
Without doubt, Marshal Badoglio was betraying his allies. Sending aid as soon as possible? When exactly would that be?
If he really wanted to assist the Tuscans, he should have sent his forces marching day and night by now, not delaying any further.
On the frontline, General Mahler, the Commander-in-chief of Tuscany, no longer had his past confidence and swagger and was covered in dust along with his soldiers during the “strategic withdrawal.”
This battle was unwinnable. The combat strength of the Tuscan Army was already unimpressive, and they were up against the enemy who were twice their number. After holding on for a few hours, they were routed.
General Mahler, leading a portion of the broken and defeated, didn’t look back as he fled. Losing a war was one thing, and losing to the Austrians was not a disgrace, but he had no desire to be taken prisoner.
As a thorn in the King’s side, should he fall into Austrian hands, it’s not unlikely they could execute a shady transaction and have him killed. Mahler did not dare test the King’s integrity.
“General Mahler, Marshal Badoglio has ordered us to hold our position and wait for reinforcements; they will send troops as quickly as possible!” a young officer said excitedly.
“Has the Sardinian Army mobilized immediately upon receiving our call for aid?” Mahler asked with concern.
“No, they held a military meeting for an hour, and then said they would send troops as quickly as possible. Maybe they have already set out by now?” the young officer stated uncertainly.
Mahler’s expression darkened, then he quickly realized what was happening and commanded, “Order the troops to speed up; our allies are about to arrive, and we’ll meet up with them up ahead!”
Allies? There weren’t any damn allies. Such a perfunctory response could fool these naive youths, but not an old fox like Mahler.
In the military, time is of the essence, like rescuing from a fire; where was there time for prolonged discussions?
Since no allies were coming, of course, it was necessary to run faster. Boosting the morale of the troops was essential, too..
