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Chapter 1257: Strategic Counteroffensive

Chapter 1257: Strategic Counteroffensive

When thousands of Russian soldiers slowly emerged like a dark cloud on the horizon, Prevedish was surprised to find a tremendous sense of fear welling up inside him.

But the honor of a nobleman made him straighten his back firmly, muttering, 'Damn it, is your courage truly less than that of those peasants and merchants?'

He had heard that the Sixth Army had lost over five thousand men in less than half a month, yet they still held their ground stubbornly.

Accompanied by a piercing shriek, a cannonball slammed about thirty meters in front of him, bouncing and rolling forward.

From nearby, a second lieutenant's order rang out: "Prepare—"

Prevedish squeezed his eyes shut and raised his Auguste 1798 Model Rifle.

On the French artillery position one kilometer behind him, Gaizka reached out with his right hand to lift a basket loaded with five cannonballs. A slight pull sent a sharp pain through his left hand, which was slung across his chest.

He turned to glance at the flag to the south, realizing that the Crown Prince himself was said to be at the front lines. Gritting his teeth, he lifted the cannonballs and trotted towards a Twelve-Pounder Cannon nearby.

Monsieur Vincent, whose face was blackened by gunpowder residue, loudly called out a series of firing parameters, then began adjusting the elevation of the large cannon in front of him.

One-third of the men in this artillery company had been transferred to the horse artillery, which had been ambushed by Cossack Cavalry five days prior and suffered considerable losses. Thus, Vincent also had to step in as a temporary artilleryman.

Gaizka placed the cannonballs beside him. From the nearby infantry defense line, the encouraging voices of the Honor Representatives reached them. "The Ninth Army will arrive in Strasbourg the day after tomorrow! Victory will ultimately be ours!"

He gestured to the Baden soldier helping him transport cannonballs, then turned and ran back to the ammunition cart.

In the temporary command post on the eastern front of Karlsruhe, Berthier lowered his telescope and said to Joseph, "Your Highness, the density of the Russian infantry lines is significantly lower than in previous days. This indicates their casualties are also very high.

"I believe the defense line can hold for at least another week."

Indeed, the Ninth Army still needed a week to arrive, but to boost morale, the Crown Prince had instructed the Honor Representatives to tell everyone they would arrive in two days.

In truth, if the Coalition Forces hadn't suddenly redeployed tens of thousands of troops from an unknown location, the Battle of Baden wouldn't have been so arduous.

Joseph nodded, then cautioned, "We must guard against the enemy deliberately concealing their forces to mislead us."

"Yes, Your Highness. I have already arranged for the Baden Guard to assist in the defense and have simultaneously intensified our reconnaissance of the enemy."

As the two spoke, Dominique Compans, a legion staff officer, suddenly ran over, waving a Chappe's telegraph message. He saluted excitedly and declared, "Your Highness, General Augereau breached the Prussian Weimar Line three days ago and is now advancing towards Berlin. Based on their marching speed, they should have reached the southern part of Dessau by now."

"Excellent!" Joseph took the military report and saw that it stated Augereau's Corps had annihilated three thousand Prussian soldiers and captured over 2,400 more at Weimar.

He turned to Berthier and ordered, "Immediately inform the entire army of this news!"

North of Weimar was almost entirely flat, with only the Elbe River offering a potential defensive line. However, the river was currently frozen, allowing passage almost anywhere.

This meant that in five days at most, Augereau would be able to enter Berlin!

"Yes, Your Highness." Berthier was equally excited and personally rushed to the front line with a messenger.

Joseph then gestured to Eman: "Please send someone to notify the Count of Monthion and tell him to depart at once."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Joseph knew very well that to maximize gains on the battlefield, diplomatic leverage was essential. Therefore, he had long arranged for a special envoy to wait in Bavaria, with all necessary diplomatic documents prepared, to ensure they could reach Berlin in the shortest possible time.

After Eman left, Joseph discovered a second page to the military report. He quickly flipped to it and saw: Lieutenant Colonel Murat pursued William III and wounded him near Naumburg...

Joseph was greatly surprised that the King of Prussia had personally participated in front-line combat. He wondered about his current condition.

Just then, the soldiers on the Baden defense line let out a tsunami of cheers: "Long live France!"

"Victory belongs to France!"

"Long live the Crown Prince!"

"Occupy Berlin!"

"Occupy Vienna!"

Their steadfast defense over the past half-month had finally paid off. All their fatigue and suffering vanished instantly. Several battalions of soldiers almost charged out on the spot to launch a counteroffensive.

That afternoon, Joseph first visited the Sixth Army's camp to deliver a morale-boosting speech, then convened a General Staff Headquarters meeting with Berthier and other officers.

"The main force of the Coalition Forces is currently concentrated in the area from Bayreuth to Nuremberg," a staff officer explained, detailing the latest battlefield situation. "General Soult has cut off the northern route of Brunswick's Corps, meaning the Prussian army will have no forces available to reinforce Berlin in the short term."

Berthier added, "The most dangerous situation right now is for Moreau's Legion. The Austrians are clearly preparing to completely encircle and destroy them."

Joseph glanced at the map and asked, "Where is Masséna's Legion now?"

A staff officer immediately replied, "They arrived north of Dijon yesterday, Your Highness."

Joseph nodded: "Have General Masséna try to reach Karlsruhe within a week."

Dijon was only three or four days away from Nancy. Masséna's Legion could take a train from Nancy and reach Strasbourg the following day. Thanks to the "obligatory labor" of numerous prisoners of war, the Nancy-Strasbourg Railway Line had been fully completed last week.

Berthier quickly made a note: "Yes, Your Highness. I will have transport vehicles prepared in advance."

Joseph continued, "Contact His Majesty Theodor and have him reinforce Moreau's Legion with everything he can.

"Once General Masséna arrives in Baden, we will immediately launch our counteroffensive!"

Masséna's Legion, with its 45,000 soldiers, represented the elite of both the First and Fourth Armies.

And a week later, the new recruits of the Ninth Army would also arrive in Karlsruhe, bringing the total number of assembled troops there to over 150,000.

France would thus officially transition into the strategic counteroffensive phase!

...

February 14, 1799.

Berlin.

The Count of Monthion looked at the ceaseless stream of people fleeing the city outside his carriage window and shook his head helplessly.

Augereau's Corps had already occupied Potsdam yesterday—meeting almost no resistance there—and the news had evidently reached Berlin, causing its inhabitants to frantically flee to the countryside for refuge.

The Count of Monthion's carriage had advanced less than three kilometers in over two hours due to moving "against the current."

It was only when a squad of guards bearing the "Prussian Eagle" standard arrived to clear a path that the carriage was able to resume its proper speed.