The wrong selection method can change history
The Battle of Waterloo, fought on June 18, 1815, was Napoleon's last and crucial battle, because his defeat put a final end to his rule as Emperor of France.
Historians cite a number of factors that led to the defeat, but Napoleon calles one of the reasons for his defeat in the Belgian campaign, and in particular the loss of the battle at Waterloo - the absence of Berthier, his outstanding chief of staff.
Napoleon said that Berthier could have arranged so that Grouchy, having received the command in time, would not remain in indecision, but would hasten to help.
During the Battle of Waterloo, Napoleon, impatiently awaiting Grouchy’s troops, asked Marshal Soult: "Did you send messengers to Grouchy?" in which Marshal Soult replied: "Yes, Sir, I sent one." Hearing this, Napoleon said: "Dear Sir, Berthier would have sent a hundred messengers!"
As you can see, the chief of Napoleon's staff, instead of the criterion of optimality - to deliver the report, choose something else, for example, to save the adjutants.
