As the clock struck twelve, Napoleon entered the grand hall of Leoben's town hall, where the meeting was to take place.
The French and Austrian delegations were seated at opposite ends of a long table, facing each other.
Berthier, who stood behind Napoleon, leaned forward and spoke. "Sir, do you really not need an interpreter?"
"No need," Napoleon whispered a reply. "I may not look like it but I'm good at German."
After saying that, Napoleon flickered his gaze to the two Austrian officials and spoke.
"Guten Tag, Mein Name ist Napoleon Bonaparte, Befehlshaber der Armee von Italien. Es freut mich, Sie beide kennenzulernen, General Merveldt und Marquis Gallo."
(Good day, my name is Napoleon Bonaparte, Commander of the Army of Italy. It is a pleasure to meet both of you, General Merveldt and Marquis Gallo.)
"Sie sprechen Deutsch zu gut, wo haben Sie Deutsch gelernt?" Mervelt replied.
(You speak German too well, where did you learn to speak German?)
"Selbst beigebracht (Self-taught)," Napoleon answered and continued. "Now, if you don't mind, we can proceed with the negotiations in your language. I'm quite confident that I can understand and communicate effectively."
General Merveldt and the Marquis of Gallo exchanged glances, surprised by Napoleon's fluency in German. After a moment of hesitation, Merveldt nodded and replied.
The room was filled with a mixture of relief and cautious optimism. The Marquis of Gallo leaned back in his chair, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Your assurance is appreciated, General Bonaparte. It seems we have reached a pivotal moment in our negotiations. Let us take a moment to confer."
The Austrian delegation huddled together, engaged in whispered conversations. General Merveldt and the Marquis exchanged words, their expressions shifting from skepticism to consideration. After a few minutes, they turned back to face Napoleon, their demeanor more composed.
"General Bonaparte, we find your terms to be ambitious, but we recognize the gravity of the situation and the potential benefits of ending this war. We are prepared to accept your proposal."
Napoleon's eyes gleamed with satisfaction. The first step toward peace had been taken.
"Excellent," he said. "We shall draft the necessary documents and ensure that both parties are satisfied with the terms. This armistice will bring an end to the bloodshed and allow us to work towards a lasting peace."
Over the next few hours, the French and Austrian delegations drew up the necessary documents, meticulously ironing out the details of the armistice agreement.
Napoleon and his advisors worked closely with General Merveldt and the Marquis of Gallo, going through each clause with precision and deliberation. The negotiations, though complex, progressed steadily, with compromises made on both sides. As the sun began to set outside, the final version of the armistice agreement took shape.
Finally, with the ink still drying on the documents, Napoleon and General Merveldt stood side by side at the grand table.
Napoleon offered Merveldt a quill and spoke. "After you, General. Sign here, and let us bring an end to this war."
General Merveldt took the quill and signed his name with a firm hand, the weight of the decision evident in his expression. The Marquis of Gallo followed suit, adding his signature beside Merveldt's.
Napoleon grabbed his own quill and added his signature to the document, the ink flowing smoothly as he pressed the quill against the parchment. With a final stroke, he completed his signature, solidifying the agreement that would mark the end of the hostilities between France and Austria.
Napoleon faced the two and extended his hand, offering a handshake. General Merveldt and the Marquis of Gallo hesitated for a moment, exchanging glances, but then they both reached out and firmly shook Napoleon's hand.
"Congratulations, gentlemen," Napoleon said, his voice filled with genuine satisfaction. "You have just ended hostilities with the French Republic, but one must understand that this is not a peace treaty but an armistice. Your government must ratify the terms of this armistice and work towards a comprehensive peace treaty in the near future."
"We will inform the emperor," Merveldt said.