Chapter 49: The Crown Prince's Strategic Vision
The enormous fountain refracted a delightful spectrum of colors as it shimmered in the sunlight.
Before Joseph could speak, André, unable to contain himself, asked, "Your Highness, I truly want to know, how did you manage to make the Prussians retreat?"
For the past few days, the image of the Prussian army suddenly retreating at the very moment he had resigned himself to death had frequently replayed in his mind.
Dubois was about to reprimand him for his lack of etiquette, but when he heard the words "make the Prussians retreat," he exclaimed in surprise, "Was the situation in the Netherlands truly Your Highness's design?"
He didn't have connections to the Davout family, so while he had heard rumors connecting the Crown Prince to the events in the Netherlands, this was the first time he'd heard confirmation.
André nodded, then looked expectantly at the Crown Prince.
Joseph smiled and said, "I can't reveal the details, but broadly speaking, it involved handing Wilhelmina over to the Southern Netherlands police to send her back to Prussia, and then having the Patriot Party bring the Prince of Orange back to Amsterdam. With that, William II naturally lost any pretext to continue interfering in the Netherlands."
His few simple words contained an immense amount of information—how Wilhelmina was found, how she was brought to the Southern Netherlands, how she was eventually sent back to Prussia, all precisely timed to coincide with the battlefield events, without William II suspecting France...
André and Dubois exchanged glances, both seeing surprise and admiration in the other's eyes. The Crown Prince's methods were truly brilliant! But as it concerned state secrets, their curiosity, though burning, prevented them from asking more.
André's expression grew solemn as he sighed, "The Prussian army has strict discipline and a high level of training. If the fighting had continued, I doubt the Dutch would have held out until nightfall."
Dubois nodded. "Alexander is currently studying intelligence on the Prussian military system and training. According to him..."
He glanced at Joseph, then cautiously added, "The Prussian army's combat effectiveness exceeds that of the French army by a third."
Joseph knew he wasn't exaggerating. Prussia had once been hailed as Europe's foremost land army. The Junkers' military training system was comprehensive and exceedingly strict, coupled with German tenacity and obedience. Although it had somewhat declined, its combat capability was still not to be underestimated.
He said gravely, "France's military system is too outdated; it's long past time for a complete reform."
Historically, the antiquated French army had suffered significant losses on the battlefield multiple times. It wasn't until Emperor Napoleon emerged that the situation stabilized, and under his guidance, military reforms were completed, ultimately transforming it into a dominant force on the European continent.
Dubois immediately agreed, "That's certainly true. Alexander and I have discussed this many times. We should thoroughly study Prussia to prepare for future challenges!"
"Study Prussia?" Joseph looked at him, shaking his head slightly. "What we need to do is surpass the Prussian army, not merely imitate them."
André and Dubois exchanged glances again. "Then, Your Highness, how do you believe the army should be reformed?"
Joseph had already considered these matters. He promptly stated, "The greatest problem with the French army is its fragmentation—no unified command, no standardized training, and enormous disparities in equipment and soldier quality. When facing major campaigns, a cobbled-together army might appear vast, but in reality, very few of its formations are truly effective..."
Since the topic had turned to military reform, he continued, explaining the abolition of local legions, the unified national management of the army, increasing the number and training of non-commissioned officers, and developing new tactics.
André and Dubois listened, their eyes widening with each word. The Crown Prince, barely thirteen years old, possessed such strategic foresight, while they, after years of military schooling, had only learned to repeat the experiences of their predecessors, as if they had no brains at all...
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