When they heard Napoleon’s proclamation offering them, as compensation for mutilation and death, the words of posterity about their having been in the battle before Moscow, they cried “ Vive l’Empereur! ” just as they had cried “ Vive l’Empereur! ” at the sight of the portrait of the boy piercing the terrestrial globe with a toy stick, and just as they would have cried “ Vive l’Empereur! ” at any nonsense that might be told them. There was nothing left for them to do but cry “ Vive l’Empereur! ” and go to fight, in order to get food and rest as conquerors in Moscow. So it was not because of Napoleon’s commands that they killed their fellow men.