Chapter 91: Where There Are Generous Rewards, There Are Brave Men
Trento, since the Battle of Venice, has become the target of competition between the two sides.
The Kingdom of Sardinia has deployed three divisions of troops, but still, they were unable to break through the Austrian defense lines.
After a week passed, Lieutenant Colonel Gregory was no longer as anxious as before.
He had come to realize that the enemy lacked not only military training but also the courage to fight to the death.
During this era, the use of muzzle-loading rifles limited the firepower, with even skilled soldiers managing at most three shots per minute, while most can only achieve a rate of two shots per minute.
Although the Austrian Army had decent defensive fortifications, Trento itself was not an impregnable fortress.
If the Sardinian army was willing to sacrifice lives, it could have been taken in the past as well.
Lieutenant Colonel Gregory was feeling some regret.
If he had known that the Sardinian Army was so weak, he would have listened to that young lad, Ambri?, and sent troops to raid the enemy camp.
Who knows, he might have risen through the ranks in the Austrian Army by now.
However, there was no use crying over spilled milk. The enemy’s strength has increased from one division to three, and it’s now truly overwhelming.
“Could it be that young Ambri? has the potential to become a renowned commander, yet it hasn’t been discovered yet? Perhaps it’s time to pay more attention to him; he might still earn some achievements,” Gregory thought to himself.
However, reality showed that he was merely overthinking things.
Ambri? was merely a young and fearless officer, and there were a dozen more like him in the Austrian Army.
However, Lieutenant Colonel Gregory’s frustration didn’t last long. After the enemy reinforced their troops, Marshal Radetzky also sent two additional regiments as reinforcements.
When the reinforcements arrived, Gregory’s heart couldn’t contain its excitement anymore.
It had been a long time since there was any significant military action in Europe, and gaining military achievements was not an easy task. Missing this opportunity meant missing the chance altogether.
Looking around Europe, were there any easier targets to exploit than the enemy in front of him? Gregory believed there were none.
Although the enemy had three divisions, they were mostly newly formed troops, lacking experience and battle-hardened veterans.
For example, Major General Will, before the expansion of the army, was just a company commander in the Sardinian Army, at best considered an up-and-coming officer.
However, after the expansion of the army, he suddenly became the commander of a whole division.
A battalion suddenly became a whole division just by receiving sufficient soldiers and equipment. How much combat effectiveness can such a force truly possess?
Of course, even if they lacked combat effectiveness, they were still stronger than the original battalion.
During this era, the advantage of weaponry and equipment was not yet significant, and warfare mainly relied on manpower.
The strategy of overwhelming the enemy with sheer numbers was the most effective tactic.
……
The two newly arrived regiments were also old acquaintances of Major Gregory.
The Venice region was small, and the Austrian Army’s circle was even smaller. These mid-level officers almost all know each other.
“Gregory, you’re amazing! Blocking three enemy divisions with just one regiment for an entire week! I bet after the war, you’ll be promoted and even receive a noble title!” Buck said enviously.
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In the absence of an impregnable fortress, holding off three enemy divisions for a week with just one regiment would become a classic case in military history, a remarkable achievement that would be recognized in any country.
Gregory boasted, “It’s not that exaggerated. Until yesterday, there were only two enemy divisions. I managed to hold them off for six days, not even a full week before you guys arrived.”
Regardless of two or three divisions, six or seven days, the fact that one regiment managed to hold them off for such a long time without requesting reinforcements had already gained them a reputation for skilled defense.
“Gregory, could you teach us how to withstand their attacks when we are outnumbered and outmatched?” Hank asked with concern.
Gregory didn’t directly answer; instead, he asked, “Buck, Hank, do you want to make a big move?”
“What do you mean?”
Both of them asked in unison.
Gregory said earnestly, “Let’s join forces and take down the enemy’s army!”
The two of them looked at Gregory in shock, their expressions seemed to be saying: Uh-oh, Gregory has gone crazy!
Gregory continued, “Please don't be so exaggerated, alright?”
“The enemy is much weaker than you imagine. At the outbreak of the Austro-Sardinian War, the Kingdom of Sardinia had only 23,000 troops, but now it has expanded to 200,000.
The three enemy divisions are just the result of this expansion. Before the army expansion, they had at most three regiments, or even just one or two regiments.
From the beginning of the conflict in late March until now, not even two months have passed, and the Sardinian army has increased nearly tenfold.
You have all trained troops before. In just over a month, who can create an elite army?
Moreover, nearly a quarter of these soldiers come from Lombardy. You know the quality of troops from Lombardy, don’t you?
With these people in their ranks slowing them down, do you think they are much stronger than us?”
After listening to Gregory’s explanation, both men’s eyes sparkled with a different light. As soldiers of the Austrian Empire, they still have their pride.
As one of the major European powers, the Austrian Army’s combat strength remained among the top in the world.
They believed they were not inferior to anyone and held a psychological advantage over the Kingdom of Sardinia.
Hank pondered and said, “Gregory, what do you plan to do? Remember, you are currently the commanding officer of Trento, and we both will follow your orders.”
Gregory gave him a fierce look. If he really had the power to command the entire army, why would he share this opportunity and divide the rewards?
“Stop the nonsense. If you want to achieve something, then we’ll do it together. But if you’re afraid, it’s fine. Buck and I can join forces and take a piece of the pie just the same!” Gregory said coldly.
Joking aside, how could they expect to gain merit without taking responsibility? Gregory was not foolish. With more people involved, the pressure was naturally shared. He wouldn’t shoulder all the risks alone.
……
On the early morning of May 20th, a special detachment of 800 soldiers in the Austrian camp secretly assembled.
Night raid? For the armies of this era, it was a highly challenging task.
The biggest problem was that many soldiers suffered from night blindness and couldn’t engage in combat during the night.
Gregory might not be aware of night blindness, but he knew that many soldiers had poor vision at night. This death squad of 800 people was carefully selected by him.
“Ambri?, are you ready, young man? If you’re scared, you can still back out now, and no one will laugh at you,” Gregory jokingly said.
“No, I won’t back out. Commander, I am determined to become a great nobleman!” Ambri? replied earnestly.
Where there are generous rewards, there are brave men, and including Ambri?, most of these soldiers joined this mission because of Gregory’s promise.
Each person was promised ten hectares of land, regardless of victory or defeat, life or death.
If they succeeded, the top five contributors would be granted noble titles, a decision personally endorsed by Marshal Radetzky.
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