Near Halle, September 24th, 1813
The oppressive heat of the German summer had finally begun to recede, and the quiet night was finally garnished with a refreshing chill. Napoleon's headquarters sat at the center of a sea of tents, all filled with soldiers enjoying their last peaceful nights sleep. Napoleon had summoned his corps commanders to receive their first orders. As usual, Napoleon had made them wait as he sequestered himself in his command tent with Berthier, as the officers gradually arrived to await their emperor. Davout and Oudinot sat off to one side, the former inspecting what was left of the latter's ear "I mean it still works." Oudinot mused "But god my wife won't be happy." Davout chuckled "If she complains, just ask if she'd have preferred you took in on your forehead." Both men laughed, as Bessières looked on grinning "You know." Oudinot told the cavalryman "Mortier's having a card game tonight, if you feel like your paycheck is large..." "Oh no no no..." Bessières politely waved him off "I'm in enough debt as it is."
A short time after all the generals had arrived, Berthier stepped out. "He's ready, gentlemen." he said dryly before returning inside himself, all the officers following him. Napoleon sag slouched by his desk, barely visible under a mound of papers and dispatches. After seeing the everyone was there, he stood "Well, there's been no word from Leipzig, and seeing as the ceasefire will expire in..." He checked his pocketwatch "54 minutes, I doubt we'll be getting another extension, my father in-law has no flair for the dramatic." Mortier let out a muffled chuckle "So, and I apologize for waiting for the literal eleventh hour, it's time to sort some things out. So, Maison, Poniatowski..." He gestured for them to approach, and they swiftly did "General Maison, for your exemplary Corps command, as well as over two decades of loyal service to France, I make you one of her Marshals, you've indisputably earned it." Napoleon then retrieved a small wooden box, and opened it for the general. He smiled, already knowing what was inside as he opened it, his marshal's baton "You have my eternal gratitude sire, I'll avail myself of this honor, I promise you that." "I have no doubt of that." The Emperor replied.
"Now, Poniatowski" "Sire" The Polish prince said quietly "As I told you months ago, I don-" "And I considered that, and I count the raised morale of Polish soldiers above your personal sentiments." The Pole scowled at him "If you refuse the marshalship of France, my people will see it as a slight for all time, not to mention I'll accept it as your resignation. So, Marshal Poniatowski, what will it be?" The prince glared at him "You can keep the baton, though I accept, sire." He gave a cursory bow, before stepping out, adding "Jebany dupek" under his breath.
"Anyway.." Napoleon moved on "Captain Wasowicz has it on good authority, that Blucher's moving East, while the Archduke pounces North." "An encirclement?" Ney suggested "Encirclement? No, no more of a large pincer I think." MacDonald nodded "Snatch the great cities of our flanks, flood Germany with Cossacks, and send us scurrying back across the Rhine." Napoleon laughed "He think's I'm Jourdan! That'll be the day. No, he takes me for a more 'sensible man', someone who won't see..." He ripped out a map of Germany, sprading it out for those assembled, and pointing to one of the largest names "Berlin, she's open, we can." Soult couldn't stay quiet any long "Open? Sire, Barclay, the Tsar" Napoleon rolled his eyes "Bernadotte. That could be 200,000 men-" "Against our 300,000. A decisive victory, then we stab Prussia in the heart. If that's not enough for peace then I'm not at fault for it."
"Ney." The marshal stepped forward "I want you to take 40,000 men, head towards Magdeburg. Try to shadow Blucher, you don't let him consolidate, you don't let him fall back on Berlin." Ney looked a bit daunted by that "Whatever you say sire, I'll leave in two hours." Napoleon nodded to signal his assent, and ney turned to leave "Everyone else will get their orders by daybreak, in the meantime see to your corps, France's fate will be decided in Germany in the next few weeks, act accordingly." The men assembled nodded, they knew well that a slaughter was coming...