Chapter 263: Casting a Long Net to Capture a Big Prize
The declaration of war by the Austro-Hungarian Empire against Italy brought unwelcome news to Napoleon III's war efforts.
In a wearied tone, Napoleon III addressed his French generals, stating, "It is now certain that the Austrians will not intervene in our conflict with Prussia, which means we will have to contend with even more Prussian troops."
This news weighed heavily on the French army. Prior to the war, France had held a rather dismissive view of Prussia. However, as the conflict unfolded, France found itself ensnared in the relentless crowd tactics employed by the Prussians.
France was at a disadvantage in the current battle situation. The Rhine Army remained on the defensive, while McMahon's troops in the south faced a significant disadvantage, with the looming risk of collapse. The Fifth Army dispatched to provide support had not achieved any notable successes. The Prussian Fifth Army inflicted substantial losses, and due to the presence of the Hechingen Brigade supporting Saverna and the third brigade led by Robert, the two sides found themselves deadlocked in the Saverner area.
The battlefield appeared unyielding, and Napoleon III's hopes for assistance from the Austro-Hungarian Empire grew day by day. This was a consequence of the ongoing Franco-Prussian War. Some individuals in Austria did harbor grudges against Prussia. If the Austrian Empire still existed, there might have been a genuine possibility of Austrians attacking Prussia. However, in the current timeline, it was the Austro-Hungarian Empire, backed by Tsarist Russia, that supported Prussia.
"Your Majesty, we cannot rely on the Austro-Hungarian Empire. These Italians have acted recklessly, even declaring war on the Pope against the strong opposition of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. We should not have abandoned the Pope..." lamented one voice.
History, however, could not be taken for granted. If altering history were possible, Napoleon III's foremost desire now would be to lend a helping hand to the Austrian Empire during the Prussian-Austro-Prussian War.
In stark contrast to Napoleon III's gloomy disposition, high-ranking Prussian officials suddenly realized the significance and rejoiced upon hearing of the war declaration between the Austro-Hungarian Empire and Italy.
"Now, we have finally unraveled the Austro-Hungarian Empire's long-standing military mobilization. They have had their eyes on Italy for a while now. This time, Italy has walked right into the trap. What awaits Italy next is uncertain," exclaimed one official.
"That's excellent news. We no longer need to concern ourselves with the Austro-Hungarian Empire betraying us. We can focus our full strength on confronting the French. As for the Kingdom of Italy, their fate is of little consequence!" declared another official.
...
On the Italian-Austrian border, the Isonzo River defense line was divided into two tiers. The lower reaches of the Isonzo River ran north-south and provided the only defensible terrain in the area. Therefore, Italy had no intentions of relinquishing its position on the west bank of the Isonzo River. However, the west bank's topography, lower than that of the east bank, made it susceptible to artillery bombardment by the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Consequently, Italy established a second line of defense 20 kilometers west of the Isonzo River.
"Boom...boom...boom..."
The Italian speculation was proven correct. On the day following the outbreak of war, Austrian artillery units positioned on the Bain Siza Heights and Carso Heights on the east bank commenced shelling Italian positions on the opposite side.
At this juncture, Italy's deployment primarily prioritized two defense lines. One was a northern defense line relying on the protection of the Alps. The other was a southern defensive arrangement along the west bank of the Isonzo River.
Italy boasted approximately 150,000 troops, whereas the Austro-Hungarian Empire deployed just over 80,000 soldiers, including 20,000 from the Kingdom of Hungary. Both sides had committed their main forces.
Venice and Lombardy held undeniable strategic importance for Austria. Their favorable geographical locations and port conditions, along with economic and historical factors, motivated the Austrian government to actively promote this war. Hungary, too, sought to gain from this situation, as long as Austria did not oppose Germany's regional actions. Italy, Tsarist Russia, and Hungary all favored these developments.
On the elevated terrain of the east bank of the Isonzo River, Archduke Albrecht of the Austro-Hungarian Empire watched with satisfaction as the artillery units of his empire demonstrated their prowess through a telescope.
Albrecht, a renowned general of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, was the son of the famous Austro-Hungarian General Karl Karl from the Napoleonic era. Since 1869, he had served as the Director of the Austro-Hungarian Army, focusing on industrial and railway development. He had established a short-term military service system to train more reserve soldiers, bolstering the empire's war potential. Albrecht had also upgraded troop equipment, furthered the development of new weapons, and enhanced the staff system.
The Franco-Prussian War had erupted on June 20, 1870. To prevent Albrecht from seeking revenge, Prussia had bestowed upon him the title of Marshal of Prussia and the Grand Order of St. George.
In the original historical timeline, Albrecht would have been in France assisting with the conflict against Prussia. However, in this alternate reality, the Austro-Hungarian Empire had already committed to its strategy against Italy, leading Franz to appoint him as the supreme commander for the war against Italy.
As the artillery shells rained down, the Italians' first line of defense swiftly crumbled under Austro-Hungarian fire. Italy recognized that their first line of defense, vulnerable to Austro-Hungarian artillery, had to be abandoned. This strategic retreat allowed Italy to buy time for reinforcement and fortification of their second line of defense.
"Marshal! Why don't we launch an attack on the Italian army under the cover of our artillery fire? The Italians are currently demoralized and vulnerable due to our bombardment. Moreover, we have established military facilities in Tolmino and Gorizia on the west bank of the Isonzo River, providing a solid bridgehead for our troops to cross the river directly," inquired a perplexed Austro-Hungarian general.
"This is not the time for an offensive, my friend. We must let the Italians realize the gravity of their situation. Simultaneously, we should create the illusion that more of our troops are being mobilized to the Eastern Front, luring Italy into a trap. While launching an offensive now and potentially defeating the Italians swiftly is possible, we must avoid instilling fear in them," Archduke Albrecht responded with a tinge of disdain.
Albrecht's demeanor was not one of arrogance but rather a reflection of his military prowess. He was celebrated in Europe for leading 80,000 Austrian troops to victory against the 120,000-strong Italian forces commanded by Emmanuel II during the previous Italian-Austrian conflict.
Consequently, Albrecht regarded the 150,000 troops stationed by the Kingdom of Italy on the Eastern Front with a degree of contempt. Even though he commanded 80,000 troops now, they represented the