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Chapter 369: Garbage Time on the Battlefield

Charles II still looked puzzled. "But there's no conflict between the farmers and nobles in France currently, is there?"

Marquis Wellesley waved the spoon in his hand at him, as if it were his rapier. "Then we'll do something to break this peace between them."

"You mean?"

"We'll announce the Redemption Policy on behalf of the French government. I'll use my connections in Paris to spread the rumor among the nobles that the French government plans to distribute land to the farmers at extremely low prices."

Marquis Wellesley said, gesturing to Vandernoot, "Your people will then tell the French farmers that the King has decided they must pay for centuries of supporting the nobility."

"Once both sides are furious, you will ally with France's Liberals and lead the farmers in an uprising. France will surely descend into chaos!"

Vandernoot immediately nodded excitedly, then hesitated, saying, "My Lord Marquis, but the French government will certainly step forward to deny it."

Wellesley chuckled. "In this situation, unless they formally announce a land redemption plan, no matter how they deny it, no one will believe them."

"And right now, no redemption plan can satisfy both farmers and nobles. Whichever side's interests are threatened by the plan, we'll support them in causing trouble."

...

The city of Namur, south of Brussels.

André Davout, commander of the Moulins Legion, saw the Crown Prince approaching to greet him from a distance. He quickly dismounted, strode forward, removed his hat, and bowed. "You look very well, Your Highness. Everyone in Luxembourg is talking about your victory against the Hanoverians; you've practically become a legend!"

"Victory belongs to every member of the Guards Corps," Joseph smiled, nodding in return, and clapped him on the arm. "With the Moulins Legion in Brussels, I can finally rest easy. Come, let's enter the city first. You'll only have three days to rest before moving to Rœulx to take up garrison duties."

"The Moulins Legion is at your service, anytime!" André declared loudly.

Joseph had received a report from Versailles a few days prior, stating that the British Foreign Secretary would visit Paris in the middle of next month to consult on several important matters between the two nations.

Joseph surmised that the war in India had stung the British, and they were coming to seek peace. This matter was too significant to leave to his mother, so he decided to return home for a visit. Additionally, he could take the opportunity to discuss France's major strategies with his mother, to prevent a dangerous situation like when the Russian ambassador tried to forge a secret treaty last time.

Currently, the standoff on the Brussels front had entered "Garbage Time." France was unwilling to attack, and Charles II's forces couldn't advance. Each day, both sides would fire a few perfunctory shots at each other before withdrawing their troops.

Therefore, even if he left the Southern Netherlands, there shouldn't be any issues here.

However, to be safe, he still transferred two regiments from the Moulins Legion stationed in Luxembourg. Although the Moulins Legion's combat strength couldn't compare to the Guards Corps, it was more than sufficient to deal with the Hanoverian forces.

"What's the situation like in Liège?" Joseph asked, looking at André, who was riding alongside him.

"It's rather dull, I'd say," André shrugged. "Lefebvre complains every day about why he can't launch a surprise attack on the Prussians. As for the Prussians, they've built long, narrow breastworks along the border of Liège and Longny and set up many cannons, but they haven't attacked in a long time either."

Blücher, upon learning that the Hanoverian forces had been routed and that the front had stabilized around Brussels, had lost his will to continue fighting. Even if he could defeat Leo's Austrian army here, he would only end up in a standoff with the French army in Brussels. He wanted to achieve glory in Silesia, not waste time in the Southern Netherlands!

However, some fools in Prussia, likely figures like Möllendorf, kept advising His Majesty the King that they absolutely could not accept the "humiliating situation" of being driven out of the Southern Netherlands by Austria.

Ultimately, he received the King's orders that he must repel the Austrian forces on the Luxembourg front and reinforce Brussels as soon as possible.

Blücher's troops, having previously been badly beaten by the Guards Corps, were also demoralized. After two failed attempts to attack Leo and being repelled, they lost the will to continue their offensive.

Leo knew his limitations and was even more reluctant to attack. Lefebvre had received orders from Joseph not to conduct a large-scale annihilation of the Prussian army.

Thus, the fighting around Liège also entered "Garbage Time."

After receiving a detailed report on the Liège-Luxembourg front from André, Joseph was completely reassured.

The next morning, he set off by carriage back to Paris.

Construction of the railway from Luxembourg to Verdun had already begun. As for Verdun, wooden tracks had already been laid during earlier war preparations.

After leaving Verdun, a half-day journey by carriage would connect them to the wooden railway linking Reims and Paris.

The entire journey took just over five days, with nearly two of those days spent delayed within the Southern Netherlands. Moreover, the ride on the wooden tracks was exceptionally smooth. By the time they reached the northern outskirts of Paris, Joseph felt none of the fatigue he usually experienced after long trips, ready to proceed directly to Versailles to attend to official business.

As Versailles had not been notified in advance, no honor guard was present to welcome him.

Joseph's carriage sped through the streets of Paris, and he occasionally overheard passersby discussing the two recent great victories of the French army. Suddenly, four or five children burst out from a street corner, wielding wooden sticks and making "bang-bang" sounds with their mouths as they charged at another group of children.

Eman, sitting opposite him in the carriage, looked out the window and said to Joseph, "Your Highness, it's said that the most popular game among children in Paris recently is 'The Crown Prince vs. The Prussians.' I read about it in a letter from my father; my younger brother is thirteen, and he still plays it tirelessly."

He suddenly remembered that His Highness the Crown Prince was leading Police Reform when he was thirteen, and he couldn't help but feel a pang of admiration.

"Perhaps he'll become an excellent soldier when he grows up," Joseph said with a slight smile, "one who truly defeats the Prussian army on the battlefield."

Eman quickly replied, "Thank you for your encouragement, Your Highness. I'll make sure he works hard!"

The carriage soon entered the Palace of Versailles. A lady-in-waiting, spotting Joseph's figure from a carriage window, quickly gathered her skirt and ran towards the Petit Trianon, shouting to the Queen's maid, "The Crown Prince has returned!"

Joseph didn't wait for the nobles to gather around, but instructed the coachman to drive directly to his mother's chambers.

After Queen Marie had fussed over him with questions for more than half an hour, and had servants bring out the imperial chef's latest Niederland-inspired desserts, Joseph finally found an opening to discuss serious matters.