He was to forward to the Directory all offers of submission.

Nay, he was not empowered to grant on his own responsibility even an armistice.

He was merely to push the foe hard, and feed his needy soldiers on the conquered territory.

He was to be solely a general, never a negotiator.
The Directors herein showed keen jealousy or striking ignorance of military affairs.

How could he keep the Austrians quiet while envoys passed between Turin and Paris?
All the dictates of common sense required him to grant an armistice to the Court of Turin before the Austrians could recover from their recent disasters.