Marshal Franzini initially believed that the arrival of the enemy's main force was imminent, but this notion was swiftly dismissed. The bulk of the Austrian army still remained in Hungary, where they held a strategic advantage despite the ongoing rebellion. Furthermore, the geographical obstacles made it implausible for any substantial force to traverse the Alps with such speed.

The only plausible scenario was the potential arrival of cavalry divisions. While cavalry units could feasibly reach their location within a week, such a notion seemed ludicrous. It was inconceivable that the Austrian High Command would dispatch a significant portion of their cavalry to Trento, a region nestled in the heart of the treacherous mountains of the Alps.

Despite harboring doubts regarding General Messier's reports, Marshal Franzini couldn't discount the fact that the Austrians had decisively defeated three Sardinian divisions overnight. Such a feat indicated considerable numerical superiority on their part.

Perplexed, Marshal Franzini inquired, "Have there been any noteworthy movements among the enemy's forces?"

Fabio Lanzano consulted his records before responding, "Apart from a minor deployment on May 18, when two battalions were dispatched to bolster Trento's defenses, there have been no significant troop movements reported."

It was inconceivable that these reinforcements had originated from Venice. With Austria maintaining fewer than 100,000 troops in Venice, the withdrawal of three divisions would have left a glaring gap in their defenses. How such a substantial movement had gone unnoticed remained a mystery.

After a brief silence, Marshal Franzini ruefully remarked, "It appears the enemy reinforcements have indeed arrived. Perhaps their earlier deployment to Hungary was a diversionary tactic. After all, the Hungarian uprising hardly warrants such a massive mobilization of forces."

"It seems they've been manipulating us from the outset," he continued. "Old Radetzky's cunning knows no bounds; he deliberately feigned weakness to catch us off guard. It's doubtful that the bulk of the Austrian forces were intended for Hungary; most likely, they were directed against us."

Chief of General Staff Maurizio Bolognetti interjected anxiously, "Lord Marshal, Austria's military capabilities, while not comparable to the Prussians, is not inferior. If Vienna so desires, they could commit 200,000 to 300,000 troops to the Italian theater. Without accurate intelligence on the enemy's reinforcements, achieving victory in subsequent battles will prove exceedingly challenging."

This raised the crucial question: how had Austria managed to deploy troops to Trento without detection? Determining the size, composition, and armament of these reinforcements became an urgent priority.

After deliberation, Marshal Franzini instructed, "Dispatch someone immediately to gather intelligence on the enemy's strength. A deployment of this magnitude must have left traces."

Turning to the unfortunate messenger who had relayed news of the defeat, he inquired, "What were our casualties?"

The messenger hastily responded, "Lord Marshal, the three divisions engaged in the Battle of Trento have suffered significant losses. We are still tallying the exact figures, but our estimates suggest casualties approaching 20,000. However, the number of confirmed deaths and surrenders is less than half this figure. Many are unaccounted for, lost amidst the chaos following the defeat. We remain hopeful that they will rejoin our main force in the coming days."

Upon hearing this grim assessment, the officers' expressions turned pale. The severity of the losses rendered the three divisions almost incapable of functioning as a cohesive unit. Moreover, the prospect of missing soldiers returning to duty seemed increasingly unlikely, given the harrowing experiences they had endured.

Orazio Federici, recently promoted to general, proposed, "Lord Marshal, with the arrival of enemy reinforcements, our chances of capturing Venice have diminished. It would be prudent to consolidate our position along the west bank of the Mincio River, securing our hold on Lombardy."

The senior staff welcomed this suggestion, recognizing the futility of further engagement without adequate reinforcements. The Austrian army's disciplined and methodical approach had thwarted their every move thus far, and the arrival of reinforcements only compounded the challenges ahead.

Marshal Franzini dismissed the officers, conferring with the Chief of General Staff before reconvening. "General Federici," he declared, "you will lead the 4th and 5th Divisions to Verona and establish defensive positions west of the Mincio. Though I had hoped to seize Verona before the Austrian reinforcements arrived, time is now against us. Other deployments will remain unchanged. Each of you must focus on your assigned tasks. I will relay the situation to His Majesty and await further orders."

* * * * * * * * * *

In reality, Austrian reinforcements had not arrived at Trento but at Vicenza. General Messier, seeking to deflect blame for the defeat, had fabricated reports that misled the Sardinian High Command, resulting in a misguided deployment that squandered valuable resources.

At this juncture, General Messier was preoccupied with shoring up his depleted ranks, resorting to coercive measures to replenish his forces. The suddenness of the enemy's assault had left little opportunity for an orderly retreat.

Having regrouped in Bergamo, General Messier surveyed the remnants of his once-proud divisions, now reduced to a mere shadow of their former strength. Aware that his reputation hung in the balance, he resolved to distort the truth, fearing the shame of public censure.

With no thoughts of redemption, General Messier focused solely on evading accountability and salvaging what remained of his standing. In a society where moral decay and self-interest reigned supreme, monetary influence offered a potent shield against scrutiny.

As General Messier and his entourage traversed the streets of Bergamo, Major General Madruzzo voiced concern over their precarious situation. Ignoring the warning, General Messier dismissed the populace with disdain, confident in the power of privilege and capital to shield him from repercussions.

Indeed, the notion of national unity seemed inconsequential in the face of personal preservation. In the eyes of the aristocracy, the transient nature of public memory rendered past indiscretions irrelevant, so long as one's status and wealth remained intact.

As the specter of defeat loomed large, General Messier's priorities shifted from winning the war to safeguarding his own interests. In a world where morality had been supplanted by avarice, he saw no recourse but to abscond with whatever resources he could muster, leaving behind a populace ravaged by the grim realities of conflict.