Chapter 894： Founding differences

"Understood! Don't worry, the General Staff will do what you want!"

Niel reassured Jerome Bonaparte in a slightly high-pitched tone.

"By the way, there is also more research on the tactics of the army and the battle with the large corps!

Don't always think about using the existing tactical system before, our era is different from the era of the First Empire!

Therefore, the tactics of the large regiment and the formation of the army during the Napoleonic period can only be used as a reference, and cannot be copied blindly.

However, the skirmish lines used in the early days of the First Republic can be used as a reference.

How you use it is up to you!

Of course, not only the tactics of the Napoleonic period, but also the security war in Algeria, and even the Crimean War can only be used as a reference..." Jerome Bonaparte rambled to Niel, at this moment He could not wait to put everything in his head into Niel's head.

If only talking about military command on the battlefield, Jerome Bonaparte's ability cannot be compared with Nierre at all.

Not to mention Niel, even a staff officer with one or two years of command experience is much stronger than Jerome Bonaparte.

However, when it comes to the prediction of future wars and the development of the army, even the next-door German **** of war, Old Mooch, is not as good as him.

At least the current Lao Maoqi is still in the groping stage for the reserve system and military station. In history, the old Maoqi theory really matured after experiencing the Prussian War.

And Jerome Bonaparte is equivalent to standing on the shoulders of the general star from now to the next one hundred years, discussing the idea of ​​​​building an army.

Although some ideas may not be applicable now, for an excellent military commander, some ideas of Jerome Bonaparte can be used for reference.

Just like Niel now, he is now listening intently to Jerome Bonaparte's rhetoric, then stretches out his hand, and offers his own opinion.

Niel believed that if the French army used a skirmish tactical group similar to that of the First Republic, it would inevitably make the entire battlefield extraordinarily chaotic, which was not conducive to the command of the army.

On the contrary, if the army is attacked in battalion-based tactical groups, then the firepower of France can be further strengthened, and each brigade should be equipped with a thousand shovels and axes, so that the army can be attacked by Switch to defensive mode.

Niel's cautious tactical system made Jerome Bonaparte feel that he was not dealing with a general who was bathed in the glory of the First Empire, but rather like Marshal Petain, the hero of the Battle of Verdun in the First World War.

During the First World War, Pétain was the only general in the whole of France who believed that France should conduct a defensive counterattack.

It turned out that Marshal Pétain's suggestion was correct, and that in World War I France really should have fought a defensive counterattack.

However. It's the 1850s, the numbers and industry gaps between France and Germany are not obvious, and the theory of defensive counterattacks simply doesn't apply to the current version.

However, considering that Niel himself was born in the engineering army, it is not surprising that he can speak the words on the defensive counterattack.

"General Niel, a group of skirmishers does have the potential to cause chaos in the army, so we should choose to give our subordinate troops more decision-making power, so that they can judge for themselves what to do and what not to do! Of course, the general The chief of staff should also strengthen his control over the army!" Jerome Bonaparte offered his opinion to Niel, "A large number of small units moving from all directions, combined with the firing speed of the new rifles, can completely create a unique atmosphere. Kind of overwhelming momentum!

I believe that any army will have fear in their hearts after seeing this situation!

What's more, we have artillery, a big killer. The concentrated artillery moves with the troops, using artillery to attack the enemy, weakening the enemy's morale, and then using the infantry all over the mountains to form a semi-encirclement...

And I have commissioned Xia Saibo to develop a new weapon for the army, he is a rifle with multiple barrels...

This rifle will be used at the forefront, following the infantry to harvest the enemy.

This way we don't have to worry about the lack of firepower! "

Jérôme Bonaparte continued to talk eloquently, while Niel gradually gave up the views he insisted on.

"Of course, you just said that each brigade is equipped with a thousand shovels and axes, I very much agree!

We must learn not only how to attack, but also how to defend!

However, the existing shovels and axes of the army are not very good in terms of strength and appearance! , I will let the industrial group design a new type of shovel for the army, when that time comes, you just need to place an order! "Jérôme Bonaparte went on to say something to Niel.

Niel, who did not know the truth, thought that Jerome Bonaparte was doing this for the benefit of his company. He hurriedly expressed his loyalty to Jerome Bonaparte and said that as long as the engineer shovel was designed, the army would be the first. time purchase

Immediately afterwards, when Jerome Bonaparte and Nierre talked about the role of the telegraph again, Jerome Bonaparte proposed that each division should be equipped with a telegraph company. The function of this telegraph company is to receive Telegraph and telegraph lines. (wired telegraph, each telegram has a telegraph wire behind it)

Niel thought that they only needed to have fixed telegraph stations at the nodes of the viewpoint, so that they could also take advantage of the cavalry to communicate.

"What should we do if our army is in an enemy village?" Jerome Bonaparte asked in return, "There is no ready telegraph station there!"

"This..." After thinking for a moment, Niel nodded in agreement with Jerome Bonaparte's idea.

…

Although Jerome Bonaparte and Nierre had some disagreements on some of the above issues, on the issue of cavalry, Jerome Bonaparte and Nierre were rarely in agreement.

That is to reduce the number of cavalry units as much as possible, especially the number of heavy cavalry units.

The first battle of Crimea has fully seen that the cavalry has completely transformed from the main force to the auxiliary left function in the war.

In the current French army, there are 12 regiments of heavy cavalry, 20 regiments of basic cavalry, 21 regiments of light cavalry, and 7 regiments of African cavalry.

The total number of all cavalry is about 86,000 people, and maintaining such a large cavalry force is also a lot of money.

"Your Majesty, I am going to cut half of the heavy cavalry of the 12 regiments, and cut off all the basic cavalry of the 20 regiments! The remaining 21 regiments of light cavalry, also only 15, but their equipment must be according to the reconnaissance. Cavalry specifications come.

Seven African cavalry regiments remained. "Niel told Jérôme Bonaparte about his ideas of reform.

Jerome Bonaparte silently counted the number of cavalry Niel cut off.

If you really want to do what Niel said, there are only about 40,000 left in the 86,000 cavalry troops.

Among them, the African cavalry regiment accounted for 10,000 people. (The African cavalry regiment belongs to the colonial army, and Niel chose to keep the African cavalry regiment considering the need for mobility in North Africa)

"Niel, do you know how many nobles you will hate for doing so!" Jerome Bonaparte said to Niel with a serious expression.

Among the French cavalry units, heavy cavalry and rudimentary cavalry (dragon cavalry and lancers) have always been gathering places for noble children.

Once the plan is implemented, Niel will have to be scolded to death by the unemployed noble children. At the extreme, I am afraid that he will come directly and ask Niel's order!

A bitter smile appeared on the corner of Niel's mouth, and he replied to Jerome Bonaparte: "Your Majesty, of course I understand!"

After that, Niel's goal gradually became firmer, "However, Your Majesty, we can only make our army look brand new if we resolutely carry out military reforms!

isn't it? If you stop when you encounter difficulties, then there is no way to talk about reform! "

After Jerome Bonaparte listened to Nierre's firm answer, the corner of his mouth also showed a smile, and he encouraged Nierre: "You are right! If we stop when we encounter setbacks, Then there is no way to talk about reform!

On the issue of the cavalry, I will give you the greatest support!

You can do it with confidence! "

"Yes!" Niel responded in a sonorous tone.

Later, Jerome Bonaparte and Nierre discussed other issues.

Before I knew it, it was already around 5:00 pm.

The conversation between Jerome Bonaparte and Nierre did not stop until the knock on the door sounded, and Jerome Bonaparte and Nierre who had reacted did not break away from the conversation.

At this moment, Jerome Bona looked at the gradually darkening sky outside the window with a surprised expression on his face.

Seeing this, Niel, who was sitting beside Jerome Bonaparte, hurriedly asked, "What's wrong?"

The voice of the staff officer came from outside the room, and he told Niel that Basilio, the head of the Tuinleli Palace, was ordered by Queen Augusta to come and ask when His Majesty Emperor Jerome Bonaparte would return to Tuinle. Li Palace.

"Go and tell Basilio, just say I'll be back in a while!" Jerome Bonaparte said to the staff officer outside the door.

"Yes!" After the staff replied, he turned and left.

After the staff left, Jerome Bonaparte decided to end the conversation. He said to Niel, "It's done! It's too late! I should leave too! You have to sort it out, Take advantage of this time to digest the content of our conversation!

The reform of the army is urgent, and we may be left far behind! "

"Understood!" Nierre said firmly to Jerome Bonaparte.

Under the farewell of the Chief of the General Staff of Nière, Jerome Bonaparte left the General Staff in a carriage.

Shortly after Jérôme Bonaparte left, Niel reconvened the General Staff for a two-hour meeting.

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