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Chapter 449: When Fighting, Don't Forget Your Initial Purpose

Berthier accepted the compiled data from a staff officer and continued, "According to the reported figures, our forces have killed over 1,200 enemy soldiers and captured nearly 3,000."

He spoke, a triumphant smile gracing his lips. "Of course, our gains are certainly far from over."

Joseph nodded. Many figures for killed and captured soldiers had yet to be reported, and countless scattered Prussian soldiers, though currently free, could largely be counted among the Guards Corps' captives. The cavalry could easily track them down and round them up.

The Chief of Staff continued, "Your Royal Highness, we plan to rest in Koehlen Town tonight and resume the pursuit tomorrow at noon."

Joseph, however, shook his head. "General, we fought an excellent battle today, but now I must ask you to recall the entire corps. Tomorrow, we will advance toward Ratibor."

Berthier's eyes widened instantly. "Your Royal Highness, these next few days are our best chance to maximize our gains. Why..."

'During an enemy's rout, continuously harassing them prevents them from regrouping and reorganizing. The gains from such a pursuit are usually several times greater than what can be achieved in a direct confrontation.'

Joseph smiled faintly. "Please keep our strategic objective in mind. Even if we completely annihilated Driesen's corps, it would only amount to 30,000 men. And as you know, that's practically impossible to achieve."

'When an army is defeated on its home ground, the retreating forces can obtain supplies anywhere, anytime, and scatter in different directions. Pursuers would be very lucky to eliminate even half of the enemy.'

"'Exactly,' Joseph said. 'We must make the Prussians believe today's battle was merely an accident. Our true objective has always been to rescue General Leo.'"

"'So, we need to show that we are willing to abandon immediate gains and hastily march towards Ratibor?'"

"'Yes,' Joseph said, walking over to the map. He pointed to the lower reaches of the Burl River. 'First, we do this, and then...'"

The following day at noon, the Guards Corps, having taken a brief rest, began to openly advance south, deliberately passing through every village and town along the way. Military music, accompanied by the anthem "Glory and Victory," soared skyward.

A day and a half later, when they reached the vicinity of the lower Burl River, they immediately turned sharply west. Their marching speed significantly increased, and they only traveled through uninhabited areas...

Liegnitz.

Inside the Prussian Silesian Front Army headquarters in Liegnitz, Duke Brunswick's face was as black as the bottom of a pot as he watched the officer Driesen had sent to request aid.

'Fortunately, the French pursuit was inefficient, so Driesen's losses were not significant yet, and his main force remained intact.'

Reviewing the forces at his disposal, he finally had his attendant summon an officer. "General Andreas," he instructed, "take your men immediately, along with ten squadrons of cavalry, and head to Oberon to rendezvous with Driesen."

Andreas's corps comprised over 8,000 men, bringing the total to nearly 10,000, including the cavalry.

Duke Brunswick consistently believed that Driesen's rout was due to an ambush, rather than the French army's superior combat strength. Therefore, he reasoned that these 10,000 men, combined with Driesen's forces, should have no problem intercepting the more than 10,000 French soldiers.

After Andreas departed, Duke Brunswick quickly summoned his high-ranking officers and began to rearrange the forces along the Liegnitz defensive line. To capture Leo, he had already diverted too many troops to Ratibor, which made him worry about a potential shortage of troops on the main front against Austria.

However, no sooner had his military conference concluded than a staff officer in charge of battlefield intelligence entered the tent, placing a report into his hands. "Your Grace," he announced, "a French force has been sighted heading south from Oberon. It is very likely the same unit that engaged General Driesen."

Duke Brunswick quickly read through the report and narrowed his eyes thoughtfully.

'No wonder Driesen hadn't been pursued. The French had gone south, and the only strategically valuable target in that direction was Ratibor.'

He handed the report to an officer standing nearby. "The French are so desperate to reach Ratibor, even at the cost of letting Driesen's corps escape," he declared. "This indicates that Austria's concern for Leo far exceeds our imagination."

The officer read the report and nodded. "It seems if Leo were to die or be captured, it would deal a severe blow to Austrian morale."

Someone nearby immediately suggested, "Your Grace, should we continue to reinforce Ratibor?"

Duke Brunswick, hearing this, furrowed his brow.

'Truthfully, he was now very interested in Leo as well, but Prussia's army was already smaller than Austria's. If this was an Austrian scheme, and he committed too many troops to Ratibor, it would be disastrous if that old fox Lacy launched a fierce attack on the main front.'řäνößëѕ

Meanwhile.

In the opposing Austrian headquarters, Marshal Lacy, looking pale, handed a letter to an officer beside him.

The officer glanced at the letter, his eyes widening in shock. "The French Crown Prince, he..."

As if afraid of being overheard, he glanced towards the tent's entrance and lowered his voice. "Why did he go to Oberon?"

He then looked at Lacy and exclaimed urgently, "Marshal, he is currently surrounded by Prussians! We must do something!"

Marshal Lacy stared at the peak of the tent, his hands trembling uncontrollably.

'He had already learned from his informants within Prussia that Driesen's Prussian corps had recently engaged in fierce battle with a French force at Oberon.'

'Now, considering this plea for help, that French force must be the French Crown Prince's unit.'

'Indeed, after the battle with Driesen, Joseph had sent a messenger to Marshal Lacy, appealing for help and claiming he was surrounded by 30,000 Prussian troops and was in danger of being captured at any moment.'

After a long moment, Lacy let out a sigh and said to the officer, "General Davidoff, you and General Conrad must immediately proceed to Oberon to rescue the French Crown Prince..."

'These two corps were his main forces, totaling over 30,000 men. Sending them to Oberon would undoubtedly severely deplete the forces on the Liegnitz front, but he had no other choice.'

'If any misfortune befell the French Crown Prince in Silesia—if he died, it might still be acceptable, as France might then declare all-out war on Prussia.'

'But if he were captured, France would likely trade withdrawal from Silesia for the return of their Crown Prince.'

'He, himself, would incur France's wrath for failing to protect the reckless young man. He might even become the scapegoat for a defeat in Silesia.'

After General Davidoff departed, Marshal Lacy, weary, immediately gestured to his attendant:

"'Bring me paper and a pen. I need to write a letter to His Imperial Majesty...'"