Chapter 336: Louis XVI's Reward
Leopold II continued, "According to the latest news from the Southern Netherlands, General Leo is launching a counterattack on Liège with the assistance of the French."
"With Blücher's army currently low on morale, General Leo is likely to achieve excellent results."
Joseph II nodded with satisfaction. "Help me draft an order to commend Franz Sigmund Leo, and also, reallocate another 4,000 troops to reinforce him. Perhaps Austria is about to see another military genius emerge."
Austria's military strength was currently stretched thin, so allocating so many soldiers clearly demonstrated the Emperor's admiration for Leo.
As they spoke, Count Kaunitz, the Minister of State, hurried in, knocking on the door with a document in his hand.
Seeing Kaunitz's grim expression, Leopold II quickly asked in a low voice, "Has something happened in Silesia?"
"No, Your Majesty, the situation in Silesia remains a stalemate." Kaunitz handed him the document. "It's the international situation that has changed. Hanover has increased its troops by 30,000, and it's said they will send more reinforcements later."
Leopold II's heart immediately tightened. Hanover had already dispatched over 10,000 troops to Silesia; with these additional 30,000, it would constitute almost Hanover's entire military force.
If they were to send further reinforcements, they would have to implement a large-scale conscription, which would inevitably have a significant impact on their domestic agriculture and trade.
Kaunitz added, "The only silver lining right now is that our spies in Hanover have confirmed that only 10,000 Hanoverian troops are reinforcing Silesia; the rest are headed to the Southern Netherlands. At the same time, Prussia is also preparing to allocate 10,000 soldiers to Blücher."
Previously, after William II met with the Hanoverian special envoy, he consulted with Prince Heinrich and decided to also send reinforcements to the Southern Netherlands. Since they couldn't convince the British, it was better to cooperate with them and swiftly eliminate the Austrian and French forces in the Low Countries. This would also prevent France and Austria from capitalizing on their earlier victory to reclaim the Southern Netherlands.
According to their plan, 20,000 Hanoverian troops, plus Blücher's 14,000 men, along with several thousand Southern Netherlands soldiers, and an additional 10,000 reinforcements for Blücher, would give them an army of nearly 50,000 in the Southern Netherlands.
In contrast, the Franco-Austrian forces there numbered less than 25,000.
With such an overwhelming numerical advantage, they could crush the French and Austrian armies in Luxembourg within a month, and then these 50,000 Hanoverian and Prussian troops would march on Silesia, securing a decisive victory.
Joseph II struggled to prop himself up against a pillow, his voice hoarse. "Fortunately, the British are very concerned about the expansion of French influence in the Southern Netherlands..."
Leopold II interjected, "Perhaps you could give General Leo greater rewards. His victory has significantly reduced our pressure in Silesia."
Joseph II nodded slightly. "We should deploy more forces to General Leo. After engaging Hanover, France will likely send reinforcements as well. In that case, the Southern Netherlands will be able to draw a large number of Prussian troops."
Leopold II heartily agreed. "And we, in turn, will use this opportunity to conscript forces from across the nation and achieve a decisive victory in Silesia!"
...
In the streets of Paris, countless citizens spontaneously poured out to celebrate the Royal Guard Legion's great triumph in Luxembourg.
Ever since the defeat in the Seven Years' War, the French had not won a war against a major European power in a very long time.
As for the American War of Independence, first, those were merely French "civilian volunteers," and the main force behind the victory was the American Continental Army, so the French populace didn't pay much attention to it.
This time, however, it was the regular French army, which had decisively routed the Prussian forces despite being outnumbered. This made the French feel as though the Sun King of old was making a comeback.
It was important to remember that at this time, the French had not yet developed their later "white flag reputation"; on the contrary, they were an extremely martial people.
The thrill of victory could even make them forget the worry of not having bread for their next meal. In this regard, only the Russians could truly rival them.
This was also why Emperor Napoleon could easily seize power through a coup, regain authority after exile, and effortlessly secure widespread national support—he could win battles!
Of course, Joseph's guidance of public opinion through the news media also played a part.
Recent major newspapers were filled with accounts of the Luxembourg campaign, detailing everything from His Royal Highness the Crown Prince personally commanding the army on the battlefield, to the outstanding performances of various officers, and the heroic deeds of individual soldiers.
This quickly captivated the public imagination, causing people to completely overlook the ongoing food shortages that still plagued France.
By noon, the cheering crowds had reached the vicinity of Versailles Palace, and the Versailles commercial street saw another surge in sales.
Queen Marie did not complain about her son personally venturing to a dangerous battlefield this time. She had already begun to grow accustomed to it; after all, as Archbishop Brienne had said, the Crown Prince was merely inspiring morale several tens of kilometers away from the battle, and no harm would come to him.
Hearing the clamor from the plaza, Queen Marie gestured to her lady-in-waiting, the Comte de Polignac. "Please open the windows."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The massive arched French windows were pushed open, and the cheers from outside immediately filled Queen Marie's ears.
"Long live His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!"
"The Son of Divine Favor has brought us victory!"
"Long live His Majesty the King, God save France!"
"March to the Southern Netherlands, reclaim Wallonia!"
"The Royal Guard Legion is invincible, glory belongs to you all..."
A joyous expression immediately bloomed on Queen Marie's face. Since she had arrived in France, she had never witnessed such high levels of public support for the royal family.
And all of this was brought about by her son through a single great victory.
She quickly instructed her lady-in-waiting, "Order the guards to open the plaza gates and let the people in to celebrate. Oh, and prepare some food for everyone, and a band! There must be music and dancing at a time like this."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The cheers of tens of thousands quickly engulfed the entire Palace of Versailles. Queen Marie, by the window, linked arms with King Louis XVI, who had hurried over upon hearing the news, and asked loudly, "Shouldn't we give Joseph some kind of reward?"
King Louis XVI also raised his voice, trying to be heard above the clamor from the plaza. "Yes, but what do you think would be an appropriate reward?"
"I hope for a beautiful and kind wife..."
"You would be rewarding that fortunate princess," King Louis XVI chuckled, then paused in thought before declaring loudly, "How about erecting a statue for our Son of Divine Favor in the Versailles Palace plaza?"
...
Even as the Hanoverian and Prussian Coalition Forces advanced toward Luxembourg, in the distant southern Indian Peninsula, Tipu Sultan, the leader of Mysore, was reviewing his own grand army.
It was a formidable force of 60,000 soldiers, equipped with Charleville or Brown Bess Flintlock Muskets, marching in neat European formations.
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