Holy Roman Empire - Chapter 90
Chapter 90: Chapter 90, Politics is King
Translator: 549690339
The command center of the Papal Army had become embroiled in the power struggle within the Papal State, and the conflict had now reached the frontline troops.
“Commander, His Holiness the Pope has sent an order, commanding us to halt our advance and immediately return to Rome to suppress the rebels!” a middle-aged officer said with a distressed expression.
There was no choice; before receiving His Holiness the Pope’s order, the Cabinet Government had already issued a military decree, commanding them to cooperate with the Sardinian Army to swiftly capture Venice.
Polkin had a headache. Should he listen to the Pope or the Cabinet? It was a life-or-death multiple-choice question; one wrong step in the political struggle could lead to irreversible disaster.
Do not assume that the victory has been decided just because the democratic faction seemed to have the upper hand, with Pope Pius IX fleeing into exile in Naples. In reality, the power struggle had only just begun.
As the religious leader of Europe, the Pope was also a master of great summoning, capable of recruiting help despite being overpowered by the bourgeoisie at home; historically, France and Austria had sent troops to help him regain his power.
“Commander, what should we do now, whose orders should we follow?” an officer hesitantly asked.
Polkin shook his head helplessly; he truly did not know what to do. Deep down, he was inclined towards the Pope, but the problem was that he could not guarantee that the Pope would triumph in this political struggle.
This dilemma did not persist for long. A young officer burst in, breaking the tense atmosphere: “Commander, our forces at the front have been ambushed by the enemy’s main army. We request support!”
Without hesitation, Polkin ordered, “Command the second battalion to immediately reinforce; pass the order for the third battalion in the rear to hasten their advance.”
Since the enemy had already struck, there was no need to contemplate so much —better to fight a battle first!
Unfortunately, the military forces of the Papal State had long been corrupt. Even the Pope’s Guards were reluctant to use them, which said a lot about their quality.
The events that had unfolded within the country had already spread throughout the military camps, and the already lackluster Papal Army now completely let loose.
When morale is lost, the troops become unmanageable. If this happens on the battlefield, the consequences can be profoundly sad.
By the time the second battalion caught up, the vanguard had already been routed. In the era of musket lines, what counted was courage, exactly what the Papal Army lacked.
Seeing the routed soldiers fleeing, someone took the lead, and before long, everyone else followed suit, sprinting away. The second battalion, which had just arrived to reinforce, collapsed without a fight; the battle had not even begun before they embarrassingly lost.
After running a distance of twenty miles and as darkness gradually set in, the Papal Army finally stabilized after confirming that the Austrian army had not pursued them. General Polkin was still lost in confusion.
Why did they lose so embarrassingly just as the battle was beginning? There was no helping it; he was simply a confused general fighting a confused battle.
Polkin’s rise to prominence was due to his noble birth and shrewd political mind, not military prowess. Since when did the Papal State require testing military skills to choose generals?
Gazing at the chaotic camp, Polkin frowned and asked, “Has the casualty count for Nelson been determined yet?”
“Commander, we’ve already had three thousand three hundred soldiers return, and more are expected to come back gradually. We’re assisting them in regrouping, ” replied Nelson mechanically.
Do not assume that because he shares the name Nelson, he is a famous European commander. In fact, it’s purely a coincidence—a name shared by thousands, if not ten thousand people.
“Oh God, what a way to fight a battle! Summon all officers with the rank of lieutenant colonel and above to come for a meeting immediately,” Polkin roared.
Forgive him, then. As a noble of nth generation, commanding so many troops in his very first battle and not immediately crumbling after a major defeat speaks to a strong mental fortitude.
In this battle, the losses in the Papal Army were not significant, aside from the vanguard units that fell into an Austrian ambush, the rest of the troops hardly engaged the enemy.
By the third day, with the returning soldiers arriving in dribs and drabs, the total number reached over six thousand three hundred, which, for a force of seven thousand, meant the losses were less than ten percent.
After tasting defeat, Polkin became cautious, staying put, waiting for logistical supplies, and gathering scattered troops, while observing the situation on the battlefield.
A middle-aged officer said in a low voice, “Commander, Marshal Badoglio has ordered us to immediately attack the Austrian Army, to assist the Sardinian Army in encircling the enemy’s flank!”
Polkin sneered, “Ordered us? Who does Badoglio think he is? Since when can a marshal from the Kingdom of Sardinia command the troops of the Papal State?
Does he think I’m as foolish as Mahler, to rush headlong into becoming cannon fodder for them?
Paul, tell the Sardinians that our army is fiercely engaged with the enemy’s main force and cannot spare support for our brothers in arms. I’m sure the valiant Sardinian Army will be able to defeat the enemy and win the war! ”
In terms of waging war against Austria, the four Italian states had verbally agreed to a united front, and Marshal Badoglio was nominally the commander of the Allied Forces.
However, the actual effectiveness of this ‘commander’ of the Allied Forces, well, that was for those who use it to know.
After all, everyone was competitors. Such a verbal agreement wasn’t going to eliminate the mistrust between them.
Just as the Sardinian Army could stand by as the Tuscans faced defeat, Polkin could likewise watch the Sardinians and Austrians struggle without intervention.
“Yes, Commander!” Paul replied.
“Order the troops to pack up, we’ll withdraw the day after tomorrow, leaving the battlefield to the Sardinians,” Polkin added.
Who’s afraid of betraying allies?
Polkin never regarded the Kingdom of Sardinia as an ally; he saw it as a threat greater than Austria, with its ambitious desire to unify Italy.
Not turning on allies in the battlefield, that was enough to live up to the term
‘ally.’
On the surface, Polkin’s loss seemed an embarrassing defeat that could bring misfortune upon his return.
Yet politically speaking, this defeat turned out to be a blessing in disguise, helping Polkin navigate a political crisis.
Having fought a battle against Austria, he had a justification to present to the Cabinet Government; he had followed orders.
Losing wasn’t a surprise, as it was not a ‘crime of war’. Simply exaggerate the enemy’s strength, and that was that—no one expected the Papal Army to defeat Austria, their expectations weren’t high to start with.
Of course, the explanation for the Pope had to be different, such as the attack by the Austrian Army resulting in many wounded, which naturally slowed the retreat.
By the time they retreated sluggishly, the internal political struggles should be nearing an end too.
History is often astoundingly coincidental; by necessity, Polkin made the same decision and withdrew from the war after suffering a defeat..
