novelSusiti Chapter 110 The Battle of Cooks 17
Chapter 110 The Battle of Cooks 17
Chapter 110 The Battle of Cooks 17
"Whom did you encounter on your way here?" Bernardot asked the deserter. The reply was, "No one. We only encountered our own scout cavalry on the way here."
Bernardot nodded and waved to the guards beside him, "These are British spies, here to spread rumors. Execute them immediately!"
"No, Marshal, we are not—" the deserters cried out in terror. Several gunshots rang out, and all the deserters were shot dead by the guards.
"The British are cunning; they've actually sent spies to sow discord among our troops," Bernardot said to De Soler and Dumont Soler. "Gentlemen, anyone who spreads rumors again must be thoroughly investigated."
"Yes, Marshal." Dessole and Dumonto replied in unison, then glanced at the unfortunate few.
They certainly believed that Lakul's surrender was real, but it had to be a "fake" surrender.
"General De Rossi," Bernardot called out.
"Marshal." Desoler rode forward.
"You will lead 4000 men to garrison in Öreol," Bernadotte said. "Yes, sir," Dessole replied. Four thousand troops make up a complete combined arms force, with infantry and artillery fully integrated. This force, relying on the terrain of Öreol, is sufficient to build a solid strategic barrier to protect Bernadotte's rear.
"General Dumonto, you will lead the remaining 12,000-plus main force to garrison Fredenbeck," Bernardot said. Fredenbeck, strategically located and easily accessible, was an excellent strategic buffer point, capable of both supporting the Erlell defenses and launching another westward advance towards Cuxhaven. After the army's arrival, all offensive operations ceased, and the troops were to rest, reorganize, and train on the spot.
After taking inventory of military equipment and provisions, the entire army was placed on standby.
"Yes, sir!" Dumonte replied. Bernardo immediately drafted a battle report on the spot and sent a messenger to Paris overnight.
For a time, the northern French battlefield fell into complete silence. Bernadotte neither advanced rashly nor retreated, prioritizing stability and quietly awaiting Napoleon's latest military orders from Paris, preparing to formulate further offensive and defensive plans based on the Emperor's instructions.
At the same time, Gris, who had returned to London a few days earlier, returned with the latest news from the UK and two private letters that crossed the Channel.
"Dughan, Downing Street is very satisfied with your performance," Griss said. "However, those old guys refused your request for reinforcements."
"A bunch of old foxes!" Dugen quipped, then took the two letters back to his study.
The first letter had a familiar handwriting; it was clearly written by his brother, Megan.
Megan's letter began with a subtle apology to her brother, expressing her regret for not being able to secure the agreed-upon $6000 annual salary for Dugan.
Patent fees in pounds sterling.
Previously, Dugan improved the saltpeter refining process in India, significantly increasing production capacity and purity. Its exclusive patent was coveted by the British East India Company, which intended to purchase the patent for long-term cooperation.
After several rounds of protracted negotiations, the East India Company, leveraging its size advantage, aggressively pushed down the price, eventually reducing the annual patent royalties from the initial quote to a final price of £3500 per year.
In her letter, Megan frankly stated that the East India Company was adamant and unyielding, leaving her caught in the middle between the company and her brother. After trying various approaches to resolve the issue without success, she had no choice but to agree to the contract on behalf of Dugan.
Dugan wasn't really that concerned about money. Besides, his brother Megan held a high-ranking position in the East India Company, and he did need to consider Megan's position and situation. If Megan could secure her place in the upper echelons of the East India Company, would he have to worry about not making money in the future?
In addition, although the annual fee of £3,500 is less than the expected return, it is stable and long-term, and with the East India Company as a powerful backer, there is no worry about future opportunities.
From both a public and private perspective, this is the best outcome at present.
Dugan wrote back, a few words in which he told his brother Megan that he fully understood and accepted the pricing.
After putting down the first letter from home, Dugen opened the second letter with unfamiliar handwriting.
Signed: Robert Fulton.
In the letter, Fulton gave Duggan a detailed report on all the results and data of the second inland waterway steam voyage.
For this trial voyage, Fulton chose the Great Uzi River, a vital inland waterway connecting the East of England to the Humber River, with the voyage starting at 7:00 AM at the Cambridge Main River dock and ending at Port Hull.
This inland waterway is exactly 150 miles long. The waterway is wide and well-maintained, with stable water depth and excellent navigation conditions. It is the most important waterway for the transshipment of goods in eastern England.
In the era of traditional sails and human-powered barges, ships were limited by wind, tides, upstream currents and weather. Even if they traveled downstream day and night, it would take a full three days to complete the journey. If they sailed upstream or encountered windless weather, the time would double. The transportation efficiency was extremely low, which greatly restricted the speed of material turnover between inland areas and ports.
The trial vessel, equipped with Fulton's newly improved steam engine, was completely freed from the constraints of wind, manpower, and tides. Its power was continuous, stable, and abundant, allowing it to sail autonomously for the entire journey. It completed the 150-mile journey in just six hours and docked smoothly at the Hull Port.
The entire sea trial was a complete success, with zero failures and zero engine shutdowns in the hull structure, steam turbine, and transmission system, demonstrating stability far exceeding that of the first-generation prototype.
Fulton could not hide his excitement in the letter, saying that "the era of steam shipping has arrived" and the inefficiency of inland waterway transportation has been completely broken. He will continue to improve the model, reduce the cost and increase the load capacity. In the future, it can be adapted for military material transfer, troop deployment and near-shore supply, and its prospects are limitless.
Finally, Fulton frankly stated that the money previously funded by Dugan had been almost used up and he hoped that Dugan would invest more.
"Six hours?" Dugan was also excited, which meant that Fulton's steamships were beginning to have real commercial value.
So Dugan wrote a letter and had the weekly supply ship Cooks deliver it to Fulton, instructing Fulton to go to his servant Aldo, who would give him money.
Meanwhile, the scouts of Dugan's 3rd Hussars took turns day and night to infiltrate and reconnoiter, constantly relaying the movements of the French garrison.
In recent days, intelligence from scouts at the front has been highly consistent, and the French troops have remained stationed in place with no signs of continuing their northward advance.
In the direction of Erle, the Marquis de Sole had four thousand French troops digging trenches, building earthen fortifications, and guarding the key roads on the plain.
In the Fredenbeck direction, Bernardot and Dumonto were also hiding in their camps, showing no intention of immediately advancing on Cuxhaven.
In the forward command post on the Altinwald Heights, a group of officers sat around a sand table, constantly speculating about Bernardot's intentions.
Colonel Decken believed that Bernadotte, who commanded 16,000 elite troops, should either launch a full-scale northward attack on Cooks or retreat to Hanover after learning that Lacourt's detachment had been destroyed, in order to avoid being ambushed on the flank by the British army.
Baron Deliberberg, commander of the 3rd Infantry Brigade, also felt that the French army was currently well-supplied and strong. Although they had lost a unit, Bernadotte still had a numerical advantage. Whether they launched a strong attack or advanced steadily, they had complete initiative. It was indeed a bit strange that they didn't understand this situation in Fredenbeck.
The crowd was abuzz with discussion, unable to fathom Bernardo Silva's true intentions.
At this moment, after finishing his reply, Duggan arrived at the forward command post. After hearing the officers' discussion, he immediately laughed and said, "Bernadot is not afraid to fight, nor is he incapable of fighting; he is simply waiting for Napoleon's orders."
Dugan further explained.
"If Bernardo had attacked immediately and been defeated, all the responsibility for the defeat would have rested on him alone. So he chose to remain still, hold his position, and await further orders, reporting the situation at the front to Paris as it was, quietly waiting for Napoleon's latest instructions before deciding on his next move."
"Since Bernardo Silva can't make up his mind, I'll make it up to him." Dugan turned and sat down, his tone resolute. "I'm going to write a letter to Napoleon!"
"What?" The officers were dumbfounded.
The letter was simple: it demanded that Napoleon pay ransoms for the captured French soldiers.
According to the European wartime prisoner ransom practice of 1804, French Brigadier General Lacourt, the highest-ranking officer, received a ransom of one hundred pounds.
French army officers of the rank of major and lieutenant colonel each received a ransom of fifteen pounds;
French army captains, lieutenants, second lieutenants, and other junior officers were paid ransoms ranging from five to ten pounds per person, depending on their rank.
Each French sergeant, corporal, or other non-commissioned officer received a ransom of two pounds.
The ransom for each ordinary private is one pound.
After finishing the letter, Dugan smiled and said to the officers, "If Napoleon received this letter, he would probably be furious. He would definitely demand that Bernadotte attack Cux immediately."