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Chapter 357: Local Resupply and Banknotes

As the messenger dispatched to appeal to the Hanoverian army set out, Van der Noot, the Speaker of the Southern Netherlands Parliament, still felt uneasy. He quickly penned another letter and entrusted it to a member with good ties to Britain, asking him to personally seek out Karl II.

Afterward, Van der Noot proposed an urgent motion, demanding that General Wit lead the main force of the Southern Netherlands National Guard back to Brussels immediately and to provisionally conscript 6,000 additional soldiers.

The Southern Netherlands Parliament had descended into utter chaos. On the Conservative side, members of parliament crowded around Vonck, questioning him fiercely.

"Speaker Vonck, you told us not to intervene in the decisive battle between the French and Prussian armies, yet now the French army has suddenly appeared behind us?"

"Perhaps you should contact the French again and confirm your secret agreement?"

"It was all your suggestion! Our troops are all still in Ghent!"

Vonck's face was ashen as he clutched his cane. After a long moment, he mumbled through trembling lips, "I will confirm it.

"However, the French must have a reason... perhaps they are targeting the Dutch. Antwerp is, after all, right next to Breda in the Netherlands!"

He absolutely could not admit at this moment that he had been used by the French, or the Liberal members of parliament might beat him to death on the spot.

"Yes, that must be it!" He seemed to have found the answer, and his voice immediately grew several decibels louder. "It's no surprise that the French would want to teach the Dutch a lesson for betraying France and turning to Britain this time."

He stood up as he spoke, his eyes brightening. "In that case, we should cooperate with the French army's actions to seize the opportunity to clear out Austrian influence within our borders, and even force the Netherlands to abandon its plans for a Personal Union with the Southern Netherlands..."

The Conservative members of the Southern Netherlands were primarily wealthy Capitalist Nobility, along with a small number of enlightened nobles. They had only joined the uprising because Joseph II sought to increase commercial taxes and weaken their privileges.

As long as they could escape the Austrian government's reform policies, they didn't care whether they invited French influence or allied with the British.

As for the Liberals' talk of "liberty," "human rights," and "independence," they were completely uninterested, even somewhat resistant to it.

Vonck's words immediately garnered agreement from some Conservative members, especially those from the south. It was rumored that France had recently introduced a series of decrees favorable to industrial and commercial development and had opened up the South German market. They even entertained the thought that 'incorporation into France might not be out of the question.'

...

Northern Namur Province, Southern Netherlands.

Karl II dismissed the Southern Netherlands parliament member who had come for aid and, with a grim expression, told his orderly, "Order the entire army to immediately change direction and return to Antwerp!"

General Bronckhorst, the Dutch army commander, frowned beside him. "The French intend to swiftly eliminate the Southern Netherlands army, restore Austrian rule here, and deprive us of our reason to intervene."

"You are correct, General." Karl II reined in his horse, his voice cold. "But they have made a fatal mistake!

"Antwerp and Brussels are both in the hands of the Southern Netherlands Parliament. The French army has advanced too far, and their supply lines can easily be cut off by us.

"And as long as they cannot quickly break through Antwerp, our army, once we return to aid, can strike hard at their rear!"

He pressed his legs firmly against the horse's flanks. "I will make the French pay for their recklessness!"

Soon, the Hanoverian and Dutch allied forces halted their advance under the shouting orders of officers rushing back and forth, and began to turn.

However, changing the direction of a two-kilometer long marching column of 24,000 soldiers was no simple task.

It took the officers over two hours just to make every soldier understand Karl II's command, followed by chaotic coordination work.

Some quicker regiments completed their turn and began moving north, while slower ones were still forming up in place, only to collide head-on with the former, and both sides were instantly stuck.

The artillerymen, in particular, grumbled incessantly. Because the carriages and horses were tightly linked, they had to first unharness the cannons, which weighed several hundred kilograms, then manually turn them 180 degrees, move the horses to the other side, and re-harness them. Ammunition carts faced similar difficulties, with even harder turns. Sometimes, a dedicated open space was needed for the horses to pull the ammunition cart in a wide circle to complete the turnaround.

From noon, when the Southern Netherlands parliament member arrived seeking help, the army remained busy until 5:30 PM, when they finally resumed their northward march. After an hour or so of travel, they were forced to make camp for the night...

...

Outskirts of Antwerp.

Joseph could vaguely discern the city's outline. He was about to gather his staff to discuss the next plan of action—if the Hanoverian army was slow to react, he wouldn't mind attempting an attack on Antwerp to provoke Karl II.

Just then, two Hussars, covered in dust, galloped up and reported in tired voices, "Report! The Hanoverian and Dutch allied forces have turned back north and entered the Brussels area yesterday afternoon."

Joseph exchanged a glance with Berthier upon hearing this, and both smiled.

The enemy army had indeed acted precisely as they had anticipated. In this scenario, the strategic initiative now rested with the Guards Corps.

Honestly, Joseph had worried that Karl II might be a hothead, recklessly rushing to link up with the Prussian army regardless of the consequences. In that case, he would have been forced to make a rapid march back to Liège to rescue Leo.

While that might have resulted in a pincer attack, there were too many uncertainties. For instance, if Leo couldn't hold out for even two days and collapsed, Luxembourg would be in grave danger.

Fortunately, the Hanoverian commander was a mature and steady general who had not overlooked political factors, deciding instead to return and aid the Southern Netherlands rebels.

Without Joseph having to give the order, Berthier immediately told the orderly, "Recall the detachments gathering supplies at once."

The Chief of Staff checked his pocket watch. "Everyone else, rest in place. We depart for Ghent at exactly 3 PM."

"Yes, General!"

Soon, the companies that had been scouring for supplies rejoined the main force of the Guards Corps, driving carts laden with goods.

Unlike Emperor Napoleon's approach, Joseph strictly ordered the supply detachments to pay the farmers, and even to offer a price slightly above market value.

Of course, payments were primarily made using banknotes issued by the French Reserve Bank. After nearly half a year of promotion, the acceptance of this paper currency within France was quite high. Most people would only exchange large banknotes for silver coins, or deposit them in the bank, every two weeks. As for 'change' worth less than five livres, the market was almost entirely dominated by banknotes.

In the Southern Netherlands, bordering France, French banknotes were also appearing, though they were not yet widespread.

Joseph took the opportunity presented by "local resupply" to expand the reach of the banknotes.