Chapter 761: The Flemish Republic
Scheyck saw Tyne restrained. Only then did he scramble to his feet, cautiously skirting around the general before flashing a fawning smile at Joseph and saying:
"Your Royal Highness, please grant me two days. Your Flemish Legion will then be ready to fight for you on the battlefield."
Tyne, still nearby, scoffed. "Hmph! As long as I'm here, no Fleming will ever serve the French!"
Joseph glanced at him, then turned to Scheyck. "Does this General Tyne hold considerable influence within your army?"
"Yes..." Scheyck nodded instinctively, then immediately shook his head. "Ah, no, Your Highness. You see, General Tyne's family will pay his ransom, which is why he's so willing to display this so-called loyalty and courage here.
"Most soldiers, however, don't want to be prisoners. That means no pay and a long stint of hard labor. I'm certain I can persuade them."
Joseph looked at him with interest. "And what about you? Why don't you have someone ransom you back?"
"Uh, well... my family is rather... strapped for cash. And also, I deeply admire you, Your Highness..."
Tyne sneered. "Because this fellow abandoned his post and fled yesterday. Back in Brussels, only a military tribunal awaits him."
"Shut your mouth!"
Joseph's eyes narrowed slightly. He raised a hand, gesturing to the soldier. "Oh, please afford the general some basic dignity. Release him."
"Yes, Your Highness!"
The soldiers released their grip on Tyne, but continued to watch him with intense vigilance.
Joseph first had Scheyck taken to the prisoner-of-war camp, then turned his attention back to Tyne.
"General Tyne, perhaps we could cooperate. Oh, come to my tent for a cup of tea, won't you?"
Tyne proudly puffed out his chest. "Hah! You needn't waste your effort. Flemings will never be driven by anyone who speaks French!"
Amusingly, he uttered these very words in French.
Of course, at the time, French was the height of fashion among European nobility; any aristocrat of taste would learn it.
Joseph smiled, a hint of mockery in his voice. "Yet Flemings will accept being driven by those who speak German."
"Th-that's not—"
Tyne looked somewhat flustered, arguing forcefully, "You know, we resisted..."
Joseph nodded. "Yes, and then you chose to submit."
Tyne practically shouted, "What choice did we have? Austria was too powerful!"
Joseph suddenly leaned closer, lowering his voice. "Do you truly wish for the Flanders Region to shake off Austrian rule?"
Tyne scoffed. "And then be ruled by the French?"
"Certainly not," Joseph replied with utmost sincerity. "My proposal is to establish a Flemish Republic."
Tyne still scoffed. "Are you referring to a puppet state under French 'protection'?"
Joseph shook his head. "No, it would be a completely independent Flemish Republic, with its own parliament and army, without French garrisons, and similarly, without garrisons from Austria, Prussia, or other nations."
Tyne froze for a moment, then sighed. "Even if we wanted to, we simply couldn't achieve it."
"What if you had French support? I mean, comprehensive support, from military to diplomatic matters."
"Truly?!" A flicker of surprise crossed Tyne's eyes, but he quickly suppressed his emotions, looking at Joseph. "Why... why would you help the Flemings?"
"Brussels," Joseph stated. "I want Brussels."
"Haha!" Tyne immediately slapped his thigh and burst into laughter. "You truly are a young ambitious one! Haha, Brussels? If the Flemings lose Brussels, what would they have left?"
The Flanders Region essentially comprises Brussels, Antwerp, Louvain, plus the part of Ghent Province north of the Scheldt River.
Although Brussels occupies only about twenty percent of that area, it accounts for nearly half of the Flanders Region's economic income. How could the Flemings possibly bear to cede it?
Joseph offered a slight smile. "You'd still have Zeeland, Breda, and 's-Hertogenbosch."
Tyne frowned. "Are you joking? These are all Dutch territories..."
He suddenly realized something, looking at Joseph in astonishment. "Holland? Are you suggesting we—"
Joseph nodded as if stating the obvious. "The part south of the Var River will become the core territory of the Flemish Republic."
"But that's simply impossible..."
"No. As long as you can find a suitable political leader in the Flanders Region and convene a parliament, France will help you resolve the military aspects."
Joseph was well aware that the Flanders Region held over 1.4 million Dutch-speaking people. Their deep-seated conflicts with the Walloons would make effective governance difficult in the future.
Forcibly integrating them into the French empire would only lead to endless protests and uprisings.
It could also become a tool for foreign powers to restrain France—especially with the Netherlands to the north, a nation closely related to the Flemings, making it easy to incite trouble in the Flanders Region.
Therefore, compared to ruling them directly, granting them independence was a superior option.
If the Flemings established their nation by occupying the three southernmost provinces of Holland, they would inevitably be locked in an endless conflict with the Dutch. The only powerful nation they could rely on would be France, the very nation that helped them establish their state.
And the Dutch animosity would be directed solely at the Flemish Republic, even requiring France to act as an intermediary for any diplomatic needs.
The Flemings would face no ethnic or linguistic barriers in governing the southern Dutch provinces. Coupled with the Var River serving as a natural chasm, it would be exceedingly difficult for the Dutch to reclaim these territories.
Most importantly for France, if the Flemings gained Zeeland, they would control the mouth of the Rhine River!
If France were to control this area directly, it would undoubtedly be met with hostility from Britain, Prussia, Austria, and most of the German states along the Rhine.
But after the establishment of the Flemish Republic, all these pressures would be borne by this small nation.
When necessary, France could influence Rhine River trade through Flanders, without shouldering the geopolitical burden.
Tyne, still incredulous, sought confirmation. "You're saying that Flanders would be completely independent? France wouldn't have any garrisons, appointed administrators, diplomatic guidance..."
Joseph finished his thought: "...or interfere with trade, education, news, and so on. I only want Brussels."
Tyne could no longer conceal his excitement.
For centuries, the Flemings had continually resisted the rule of the Spanish and Austrians. Now, they finally saw an opportunity to gain freedom and independence!
For this goal, even ceding Brussels was not unacceptable, as the southern Dutch provinces far surpassed Brussels in both area and economic output.
He gave Joseph a slight bow. "Your Highness, did you just invite me for tea?"
"Indeed," Joseph replied, having a horse brought forward for Tyne. "This way, please."
"Thank you for your generous invitation."
Soon, the two were riding side by side. Joseph continued, "So, regarding the convening of a parliament, do you have any suitable candidates to recommend?"
Tyne tapped his chest, stating with considerable pride, "Actually, Your Highness, I am a member of the Antwerp Parliament myself."
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