Novel Full Chapter 1317 - 1222: A Formidable Opponent
Chapter 1317: Chapter 1222: A Formidable Opponent
East suburb of Zurich.
Russian Army Brigadier General Rosenberg, filled with joy, loudly reported to Suvorov: “Marshal, we have repelled the French people, and the vanguard has already entered Zurich.
“Obviously, the Austrians have severely exaggerated the combat power of the French Army. Their shooting skills are decent, but when Zakcevic launched a bayonet charge, they immediately collapsed.”
Suvorov showed no expression and urged his horse to move towards the city: “Have the soldiers collect as many supplies as possible.”
Rosenberg quickly followed: “I thought this news would make you happy.”
Suvorov turned his head and glanced at him: “Do you think the French people have really been defeated?”
“Yes, I was involved in the command the entire time…”
“That’s just what they want you to think,” said the Russian Army Commander, “We must reach near Glarus to rescue those 70,000 Prussians.
“The French likely want us to move faster. I’m sure they are waiting for us somewhere along the way.”
Hours later, when Suvorov entered Zurich, an officer immediately reported that the city’s food, wine, and even firewood were nearly depleted.
“As expected.” Suvorov nodded and asked, “What about those Swiss Congress members?”
“Almost all have fled, Marshal.”
“Then help them establish a new Congress.” Suvorov said, “We must make good use of this capital.”
Since the battle with the defending French Army in Zurich was relatively easy, the next morning, the Russian Army’s main force continued to advance southwest.
At this time, the newly “elected” members of the Swiss Federal Assembly were being sworn in under the watchful eyes of Russian soldiers.
The first resolution of the newly established Federal Assembly was to declare Switzerland’s entry into the Anti-French Alliance and to urge the state assemblies to fully support the Allied Forces.
In the temporary command post of the Russian Army in Schlieren Town, west of Zurich, a staff officer read out the reconnaissance reports to Suvorov one by one: “No enemy found in Adrisville, no sign in Tarville, nor in Horgen…”
After putting away all the reports, Suvorov immediately circled Wiedensville Town on the map with a pencil: “Then it should be here.
“Yes, it is indeed a good place. If we head directly to Schwyz, our flank will definitely be attacked by the French people.”
He dropped the pencil and told the staff officer: “The peaks near the Reuss River need to be searched carefully again.”
“Yes, Marshal.”
Two days later.
Aside from the 4,000 Russian troops left to control the logistics route, Suvorov’s main force had reached more than ten kilometers west of Wiedensville.
At this time, their destination, Schwyz, was directly to the south, with Lake Zurich and Lake Lucerne pinching out a narrow strip less than 10 kilometers wide here.
And Wiedensville was to the southeast, right next to Lake Zurich.
A rough-skinned Russian officer urged his horse to Suvorov’s side and inquired: “Marshal, do we need to establish a guard line near Wiedensville?”
“Of course not.” Suvorov turned to indicate to the Vice Admiral next to him, “General Rosenberg, have your corps prepare to cooperate with 4,000 Cossack Cavalry to attack Wiedensville. Be sure to conceal your whereabouts.”
He ignored the shock on his subordinate’s face and continued to give orders to other officers:
“General Gorchakov, before the frontal attack begins, feign an attack from the north side of Lake Zurich to draw the enemy’s attention. After withdrawing from the battle, pay more attention to reconnoitering westward.
“General Vorotov will maneuver to the north side of Schwyz, control the passage there to ensure the Prussian Army does not encounter any interception.”
Lastly, he looked at Colonel Weilotter, the staff officer sent by Austria: “Please contact General Blucher and have him approach Schwyz with his forces. If the journey is smooth, join the battle immediately.”
The Prussian Army is currently located in Altendorf, almost adjacent to the south of Schwyz, with a straight-line distance of only 15 kilometers, but the mountains lie in between, so to reach Schwyz, they have to take a boat and detour around Lake Seine.
This requires troops to respond on the north shore of Lake Seine so that the Prussian Army is not ambushed when landing.
Suvorov clapped his hands and said loudly: “In any case, a fierce attack is always the preferred strategy. We must never let the enemy take control of the battlefield.
“Alright, now go and teach the French people a lesson.”
A group of Russian generals took their orders and left, but none noticed that Suvorov had only deployed 30,000 soldiers, while more than 24,000 remained in the rear.
At ten-thirty in the morning, thousands of Russian troops suddenly appeared to the northwest of Wiedensville and launched an attack on the town.
At this time, Sailu Li’er, lurking south of the town, was startled when he heard the cavalry’s report.
According to General Massena’s deployment, he should launch a surprise attack from the rear of the Russian Army’s main force on their way to Schwyz and hold them down.
Meanwhile, Massena’s Army would depart from south of Warren, forming a pincer movement against the Russian Army.
At the same time, they would block the Russian Army’s route back to the north.
The Hussars had reported to him yesterday that the Russian Army’s main force was still more than ten kilometers to the west, so why suddenly attack Wiedensville?
Soon, a large number of Cossack Cavalry appeared around.
Sailu Li’er sensed a dark foreboding. The Russians had likely discovered him.
He immediately sent someone to contact General Massena, and then ordered the right-wing infantry brigade to turn immediately to intercept the Russian Army while concentrating all forces westward.
Soon there was a dense sound of artillery in the northwest, but when Sailu Li’er’s main force approached Wiedensville Town, the noise of the exchange of fire gradually faded.
Sailu Li’er, with his rich command experience, immediately sensed something was wrong and hastily ordered an expansion of the scouting range while decisively abandoning the ambush, adjusting to a frontal engagement relying on Wiedensville.
Just as he completed the new battle deployment, nearly 20,000 Russian troops attacked from the south, with a large number of cavalry hovering on the left flank.
Sailu Li’er knew the Russian Army had 60,000 men in total, and he did not know where Suvorov’s main force would suddenly emerge from.
And here he only had 25,000 soldiers and was at a disadvantage from the start.
Now, he must exert every effort to hold the position; General Massena would arrive in a day and a half.
By then, they would have a combined force of 56,000 troops from both sides, using a pincer attack to annihilate the Russian Army in one fell swoop.
Under Sailu Li’er’s focused command and with the French Army’s powerful firepower, the Russians never found an opportunity to exploit.
Finally, around four in the afternoon, the Russian Army’s attack began to gradually weaken.
This finally allowed Sailu Li’er to breathe a sigh of relief.
However, he did not notice that the enemy he was fighting against at that time consisted of fewer than 6,000 men, and the Cossacks on the flank had long since withdrawn.