Chapter 1243: The Coalition's Advantage
Chapter 1243: The Coalition's Advantage
Archduke Charles frowned, glancing at the map hanging on the wooden stand.
The staff officer had already covered it with the movements of the French army. The map looked chaotic, as if the entire German region was swarming with French soldiers.
Scharnhorst rose and analyzed, "According to reports from various locations, the largest French force is heading towards Bavaria and Nuremberg."
The Duke of York smiled. "Are they looking for a decisive battle?" he wondered aloud.
North of Nuremberg lay western Saxony. At the Coalition Forces' current march rate, it was indeed highly probable they would encounter these French soldiers.
The Austrian Chief of Staff, Weiroth, paused, then blurted out, "Another possibility is a sudden turn east from Passau..."
This was a scene no Austrian officer could ever forget. Years ago, Moreau had used this very route to swiftly cut into western Austria, even briefly occupying the town of Perg deep within the territory. It had thrown Vienna into a panic, sending large numbers of nobles fleeing to the countryside for refuge.
It was difficult to guarantee that the French wouldn't attempt such a maneuver again.
The Duke of York cleared his throat. "Ahem, but what if the French truly advance into Saxony?"
"That advance corps would then move west, intercepting them at Bayreuth. Afterwards, our main force would encircle them from the flank."
The group quickly reached a consensus, all looking towards Archduke Charles.
After a brief deliberation, Archduke Charles instructed, "General Wurmser will lead two divisions of the Galicia Corps, along with General Kray's corps and Prince of Hechingen's corps, to immediately turn south and proceed to Straubing."
Previously, as Bavaria had firmly declared its neutrality, the Coalition Forces had left them undisturbed. However, if Bavaria permitted the French army to pass through its territory, the Coalition would have no further reservations.
Archduke Charles then cautioned Wurmser, "You must strive to avoid a decisive battle with the French alone. Hold them in place, and await the approach of our main force."
These three corps combined amounted to over 80,000 soldiers. However, Archduke Charles, through his interactions with the French army over recent years, knew that this force was unlikely to defeat the more than 60,000 French soldiers.
Wurmser's corps was currently less than 140 kilometers from Bavaria, while the French army was still over 200 kilometers away. He could easily reach the position first and establish defenses.
Meanwhile, the main Coalition Force would advance southwest along Coburg and Bamberg towards Baden, passing through territory that would perfectly cover the French army's left flank.
Should the French attack Wurmser's defensive line, they would find themselves encircled by a numerically superior Coalition Force.
Wurmser snapped to attention. "Yes, Marshal!"
Still feeling it wasn't secure enough, Archduke Charles turned to a nearby staff officer. "Please contact Vienna immediately and instruct Archduke John to prepare their defenses in advance."
Archduke John, his younger brother Johann Baptist Joseph, was only 17 years old, but his exceptional reputation in Austria had led the Holy Roman Emperor to appoint him commander-in-chief of Vienna's defense forces.
Of course, Count Heinrich von Bellegarde and General Franz von Lauer were the ones actually commanding the operations on his behalf.
Archduke Charles had experienced the French army's elusive tactics many times, and he feared they might indeed bypass Wurmser's defensive line.
However, Vienna currently had 15,000 garrison troops. If they could hold off the French for just a few days, Wurmser would be able to catch up and launch a pincer attack from behind the French.
After the Coalition commanders, including Marquis Wellesley, finished arranging the eastern battlefield, he promptly stated, "Intelligence received yesterday indicates that another 30,000 French soldiers have appeared south of Mannheim.
"Judging by their direction of march, their objective is likely to pass through Hanau and Hesse to attack Hanover."
To be honest, Hanover's strategic value was actually minimal, but as the ancestral land of the British King, its political significance was immense. If it were attacked by the French, it would be tantamount to a severe slap in the face for King George III.
Scharnhorst interjected, "They could also be heading for Anhalt."
The Duke of York chuckled. "Perhaps the French even intend to directly attack Berlin."
The other Coalition generals joined in the laughter.
From Mannheim to Anhalt was nearly 400 kilometers. In their view, even if unopposed, by the time the French army reached there, the Coalition Forces would have long since invaded French territory.
Marquis Wellesley waited for the others to quiet down, then continued, "Fortunately, the French forces are limited.
"I recall the Brandenburg Guards Corps is still stationed in Potsdam; they could be dispatched to Kassel to establish defenses.
"At the same time, we could recall some troops from Cologne..."
Scharnhorst immediately shook his head. "You seem to have forgotten, there are also signs of French troops south of Mainz."
The Duke of York nodded. "Yes, but only a very small force. I believe that's mostly to deceive us."
"We cannot take that risk," Scharnhorst declared, his expression firm. "The Brandenburg Guards Corps and the Magdeburg Corps will deploy along the Erfurt-Weimar line. The safety of Berlin must be secured."
The Brandenburg Guards were Prussia's elite troops, and with newly recruited soldiers from Magdeburg and other areas, they numbered over 10,000. This was sufficient to handle small French detachments.
"Then we can only ask the Duke of Brunswick to detach more troops to defend Hesse..."
The high-ranking Coalition generals pontificated on strategy during the war council, as if certain of victory, yet none of them noticed that their current operational deployments were already dictated by the French army's movements.
Once the Coalition's war council concluded its responses to the French incursions, Archduke Charles's expression finally relaxed a little, and he smiled.
"Now, the French will pay the price for their recklessness.
"They've practically emptied Karlsruhe of troops, while we still have a substantial force in that vicinity."
Scharnhorst reminded him, "According to the intelligence we've gathered, France has mobilized over 100,000 troops domestically, possibly even reaching 150,000."
Archduke Charles nodded. "But those new recruits are still undergoing basic training. After that, they'll need another month to reach the front lines.
"The Russians will have ample time to breach the Baden defenses, and if all goes well, they might even occupy Strasbourg."
He looked at the Duke of York. "I trust you will ensure your proud soldiers cooperate willingly with the Russian army."
"They will, Your Royal Highness," the Duke of York affirmed.
After the lengthy war council concluded, orders were dispatched to the various corps of the Coalition Forces.
And in the time it took to hold this meeting, the three French infiltration units had already advanced more than 20 kilometers.
...
Berlin.
City Palace.
William III frowned, looking at Prince Heinrich. "The Coalition Forces far outnumber the French. Why must my Brandenburg Guards be mobilized?"
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