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Alps, east side of the Cadipona Pass.
The nominal commander of the French-Italian Army, General Demobin, felt the warm Mediterranean breeze, which slightly relieved the chill threatening to fracture his aging bones.
He thought again of the order sent to him a few days ago by the Crown Prince and couldn't help but let out a long, bitter sigh.
He had assumed his role would be mostly ceremonial, staying in the City of Nice—where, in fact, the young Buonaparte was commanding brilliantly, leaving him no need to interfere—but who would have thought the Crown Prince would suddenly assign him to replace Buonaparte and lead the army?
Near sixty, Demobin had no choice but to drag his aging body across the Alps, making a stance that suggested a strong offensive against the southern province of Monferrat, in Sardinia.
