Chapter 364: The Situation Joseph Needs
Joseph looked at the report of captured supplies, a satisfied smile gracing his lips.
This battle encountered almost no decent resistance from the Hanoverians—primarily because the prior outflanking and interpenetration tactics had disrupted their deployments, making it impossible for them to organize any meaningful fight—and left behind nearly half of their logistical supplies, saving the Guards Corps at least a million Livre in expenses.
Those British-style cannons were also treasures, perfect for aiding discreet forces like Poland without drawing any direct connection to France.
Several Hanoverian officers were also captured, and Joseph was calculating if he could extract two or three million Livre in ransom. Of course, that was his asking price; the North German nobles might not be able to afford it.
"Your Highness, good news!" a staff officer's voice called from behind him.
Joseph, Berthier, and the others turned in unison to see the corps staff officer, beaming, approach with a messenger. He exclaimed loudly as he walked, "Major Masson accidentally encountered Charles II's guards and successfully captured Charles II!"
A chorus of exclamations and cheers erupted from the others, but Joseph stood rooted to the spot as if struck by lightning, unable to utter a single word for a long moment.
'My dear Major Masson, do you have to be so incredibly daring...?'
'I just went to great lengths to let the main Hanoverian forces escape, and you've gone and captured their commander. Charles II is also the Governor of Hanover, which means Hanover will likely withdraw from the Southern Netherlands war.'
'Although Charles II, as the Governor of Hanover and the British King's brother-in-law, would command a sky-high ransom, ultimately Wallonia is still more valuable.'
Joseph quickly made up his mind, summoning his bodyguard captain, Clauzel, to his side and whispering a few instructions.
The latter took half a step back, casting a surprised glance at the Crown Prince, but asked nothing, merely bowing and responding, "Yes, Your Highness!"
...
Major Masson's camp.
Clauzel first read out the Crown Prince's commendations for the entire battalion, as well as the promotion decisions for several meritorious individuals, before pulling Major Masson into the military tent.
"What are you saying? That's impossible!"
Major Masson's astonished cry echoed from inside the tent. But after seeing the Crown Prince's personal letter, he quieted down, then murmured, "Yes, I understand."
As night fell, a unit of Southern Netherlands rebels from Wallonia slipped into Major Masson's camp. After silently "killing" over a dozen French guards, they "accidentally" discovered the imprisoned Charles II.
The French-speaking rebels rescued the Hanoverian governor and his entourage from the enemy camp, helped them onto captured warhorses, and bravely stayed behind to ambush any pursuers.
Charles II heard the gunshots echoing in the night sky and couldn't bear to look back, repeatedly muttering the last words those brave men had said to him, 'Please, you must help the rebels drive out the Austrians! We will be watching you from heaven...'
Brussels.
In the grand hall on the first floor of the Southern Netherlands Parliament building, dozens of members stood or sat, their expressions blank, as if their souls had been spirited away by a demon, sighing anxiously from time to time.
Suddenly, a soldier pushed open the door and announced loudly, "Marshal Charles II has returned! And General Bronckhorst!"
Light immediately flickered in the eyes of all the members. Vandernoot rushed to the doorway in a few strides, eagerly asking, "Really? Where are they?"
"Just south of the city."
Without even changing his uniform, which was torn in several places, Charles II immediately headed for his army's encampment.
When Vandernoot and the other members arrived, he was passionately addressing the Hanoverian soldiers.
"We fear no defeat! We will let the French and the Austrians know that they merely got lucky once..."
"Prussia and Britain will send more reinforcements. Our army will crush through Luxembourg and march into France!"
Bronckhorst, standing nearby, loudly echoed, "The Netherlands will also send troops. The Southern Netherlands will surely be independent!"
Although the soldiers below weren't particularly moved by their impassioned and stirring speeches, Vandernoot and the others were exceptionally excited, immediately declaring that they would recruit more Southern Netherlanders to join the fight.
Immediately, Charles II summoned the senior officers from Hanover, the Netherlands, and the Southern Netherlands, rapidly organizing Brussels' defensive deployment.
The combined French and Austrian forces would surely press their advantage and attack Brussels; they had to repel this wave.
By afternoon, the more than 13,000 Hanoverian soldiers who had fled back, along with 3,000 Dutch soldiers and over 18,000 members of the Southern Netherlands National Guard, quickly constructed several defensive lines south of the city, standing ready for battle.
However, the French army didn't launch a rather lackadaisical assault on Brussels until three days later, and after being met with resistance, they immediately retreated.
For a period afterward, both sides deployed their armies across a seven to eight-kilometer-wide front, using Brussels' southern suburbs as a dividing line, creating a standoff.
Every day, the French army would fire a volley of cannon shots at the defenders, and sometimes cavalry would circle from a distance, keeping the garrison on edge.
...
Brussels Front Line.
Guards Corps camp.
Joseph studied the movements of Blücher's army on the map, a slight frown creasing his brow. "The Prussians seem to be trying to retreat?"
"We believe so too, Your Highness," Berthier affirmed with a nod. "After all, their position in Liège is extremely disadvantageous. If our army were to abandon Brussels and head south, we could encircle the Prussian forces with General Leo."
Joseph immediately pointed to the Meuse River north of Liège and commanded, "Have Lieutenant Colonel Lefebvre block the Prussians here. They must be kept in Liège, but avoid a decisive battle."
"Yes, Your Highness!"
Once the messenger departed, Joseph pondered for a moment before turning to Berthier. "Among the Prussian high command, who is the most radical?"
The latter considered this, then replied, "Your Highness, that would likely be Möllendorf, and Driesen."
Joseph nodded, making a mental note, then instructed his staff to discuss detailed plans for intercepting the Prussian army. He, meanwhile, went to the officers' tent to write a letter to the French diplomatic officials in Prussia.
Blücher's army also played a crucial role: tying down the Austrian forces in the Southern Netherlands. If the Prussians withdrew, General Leo would undoubtedly rush to join the standoff in Brussels. In that scenario, the French army would no longer be the sole military presence in Wallonia, which would severely hinder Joseph's subsequent strategy.
After handing the letter to the messenger, Joseph retrieved the half-finished letter he had been writing to the Holy Roman Emperor, Joseph II, and continued.
'Dear Uncle, you should already be aware of the situation here in the Southern Netherlands.'
'After suffering heavy casualties and enduring extremely difficult battles, France's valiant soldiers have finally managed to hold the rebels back around Brussels.'
'As you know, over 35,000 enemy troops, including Hanoverians and Dutch, have gathered before our army, creating immense pressure on us.'
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