Chapter 347: Regrets of the Holy Roman Emperor
"Yes, General, a draw." The staff officer across the chessboard pushed his chair back and looked eastward. "Just like this damn stalemate."
General Kellermann, bored after playing chess for most of the day, stood up and stretched. "I heard from the Hussars that there's a good river on the Görlitz border, teeming with fat trout. Let's go fishing tomorrow."
"That would be nice, of course," the staff officer replied. "It's just that it's quite close to Saxony, so it might not be entirely safe."
"No matter, we'll just bring more guards."
Kellermann shrugged on his coat and ambled out of the tent. In the distance, the roar of cannons echoed once more.
He had initially believed he could achieve glory in Austria and revitalize the military's flagging morale over the past six months. Ever since the Marquis de Saint-Véran's rebellion, the military had been thoroughly suppressed by the royal family, desperately needing a major victory to regain its prestige.
However, after his initial surprise attack was ambushed by the Prussians, resulting in the loss of nearly a thousand men, he hadn't had another chance to engage in battle.
The Austrian and Prussian armies had set up numerous artillery pieces on the hills of Liegnitz. The former had over 230 cannons, the latter 190. They then began shelling each other relentlessly, day and night.
The dense defensive lines formed by the cannons made it impossible for either side's infantry to easily show themselves. They lacked the audacious spirit of column charges demonstrated by the French Guards Corps. Any attempt to advance into artillery range was met with immediate retreat.
However, both commanders were well-versed in this strategy. After the clashes of the Seven Years' War and the War of the Bavarian Succession, they were very familiar with each other's military tactics, and thus, their defenses were airtight.
Thus, the artillery lines, stretching for several kilometers, shelled each other for a month. Apart from the occasional unfortunate soul hit by an enemy shell, there were almost no tangible results.
For major powers like Prussia and Austria, the loss of a few cannons could be immediately replenished. And so, the situation in Silesia remained deadlocked.
But neither nation dared to easily withdraw its troops, fearing the other would suddenly reinforce and forcibly breach their artillery positions.
Consequently, over 200,000 soldiers from both sides routinely arrived at the front lines each day. They lined up to watch the "fireworks display," then ate and slept, leading a surprisingly relaxed existence.
Only the treasuries of Prussia and Austria were not at ease. Maintaining such a massive army incurred expenses that were far from trivial.
Leopold II concluded his inspection of the Silesian front and returned to Vienna with a somber expression.
He was well aware that while Prussia and Austria were currently at a stalemate, and Austria even held a slight advantage in troop numbers, from a strategic perspective, Austria was heading for defeat.
As the aggressor, concentrating all its forces for the attack, Austria was still merely hovering on the edge of Silesia, having made no decisive progress whatsoever.
Financially, the "militaristic" Prussia's endurance was far greater than Austria's.
The former's serfs, as long as they had potatoes to fill their bellies, dared not express any dissatisfaction with their Junker masters. Simultaneously, Junker nobles were willing to go to the front lines to gain military merit, even with reduced or no pay.
On Austria's side, however, his brother's reforms had led to aristocratic resistance against taxation. If the state's finances faltered due to this war, the entire nation would collapse.
Therefore, the situation in Silesia had to be resolved as quickly as possible, using a wartime victory to stabilize the domestic situation.
As Leopold II pondered, his carriage halted in Schönbrunn Palace Square. He hurried to Joseph II's bedroom, composed his thoughts once more outside the door, and then knocked before entering.
After reporting on the Silesian campaign, he looked at his weakened brother and stated gravely, "Your Majesty, we must carry out a large-scale mobilization as soon as possible. Otherwise, by the end of this year at the latest, our finances will no longer be able to sustain the war."
He didn't need to remind the emperor on his sickbed what dire straits Austria would face if Silesia was lost.
"Based on what I've observed on the battlefield," he estimated, "we would need to conscript at least another 80,000 troops to achieve a swift advance at Liegnitz."
Joseph II gazed out the window for a long time before finally speaking with difficulty, "You know our country's current situation; it's impossible..."
Leopold II clenched his jaw, stepped forward, and said in a low voice, "Brother, it is time we temporarily halt the reforms.
"By restoring the traditional rights of the nobility and ceasing to pay extra wages to the serfs, the nobles of Hungary and Kiev could immediately raise an army of over 100,000 men. Furthermore, significant funds could be raised from them!
"With that, not only Silesia, but we could even advance into Lusatia!"
Lusatia was already part of Prussia's traditional territory, including some eastern provinces of Saxony.
Without waiting for Joseph II to refuse, he continued, "Moreover, the Netherlandish Rebels would lose noble support, easing the unrest in the western parts of the empire.
"I know this is a difficult decision for you, but once we reclaim Silesia, with the prestige gained from a wartime victory, your reintroduction of reforms will certainly proceed more smoothly than now!"
Joseph II let out a hollow sigh. The reforms to which he had dedicated most of his life's energy had now become an obstacle to the nation's victory.
After a moment, he shook his head dejectedly. "Let me think about it further... After all, it was so close to succeeding..."
Leopold II was about to press his case further when Joseph II changed the subject. "Leo has drawn up a plan for a full-scale offensive into the Southern Netherlands, requiring an additional 10,000 troops. Do you think some can be allocated?"
Leopold II took Leo's letter from his brother's attendant, quickly scanned it, and said with some hesitation, "He intends to have the French deal with the Hanoverian forces?"
"Charles II has brought 20,000 troops, along with several thousand Netherlanders. If the French army engages them in the Southern Netherlands, it should result in a long stalemate."
Joseph II paused for a moment before continuing, "Archbishop Konstantin has promised me he will gather forces loyal to him and flank Blücher from the north. Leo will certainly be able to achieve a breakthrough sooner and then capture Brussels. Oh, and General Wurmser is also in favor of this plan."
Konstantin is the Archbishop of the Liège diocese. As an independent ecclesiastical territory, the Archbishop wields immense power there.
Leopold II remained silent for a moment, then lowered his head and said, "I will find a way to send reinforcements to General Leo, Your Majesty."
After he left Joseph II's bedroom, he murmured to himself, 'A decision must be made,' then returned to his carriage and ordered it to proceed to the residence of State Minister Kaunitz.
Luxembourg City.
Joseph, taking advantage of the brief respite before the Guards Corps departed for Brussels, arrived in the historic city to preside over the French Iron and Steel Technology Association's acquisition of eleven iron mines in Luxembourg, along with the two largest smelting workshops.
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