The optimum solution would be not to invade in the first place, especially while still engaged in Spain. Russia is just too big and the time and space involved in operations with the means Napoleon had at his disposal proved to be too much even for Napoleon and the Grande Armee.

There are nine recognized Principles of War and to those should be added three more: Never invade Russia, never invade China, and never invade the US and Canada-the land masses involved are just too big to take and hold.

After Napoleon failed to destroy the Russian armies along the Russian border, the campaign should have been brought to a close and then the Grande Armee could have withdrawn back into Poland and Germany and taken a look at what he needed to do.

Sincerely,
K