Chapter 797 The Decisive Battle of Brussels
Chapter 798 The Decisive Battle of Brussels
After more than 20 minutes, Eman looked at the three-page order recorded in his hand, and sighed in his heart: I'm afraid there will be hundreds of signalmen who won't have time for dinner today.
He was about to turn around and go out, when Joseph suddenly remembered that Napoleon's report mentioned that the Milan Parliament voluntarily donated 2 million francs to his army, as well as some valuable works of art.
"Voluntary donation?"
Joseph shook his head. He knew Napoleon's urinary nature in the occupied area too well.
Although it is customary to loot occupied areas in this era, there are few exaggerations like Napoleon's. Wherever he has set foot, there is no anger or resentment.
Most of the 2 million francs were donated by him to "persuade" the Milanese with cannons. Especially those famous paintings, who donated these things to the army?
Joseph didn't want to take advantage of the embattled international situation in France in the imperial era to reappear.
He also sent Odolik to stare at him, but he didn't expect Napoleon's offending talent to be unstoppable.
Joseph wrote a commendation order to Napoleon, as well as a secret document, and handed it to Emand: "Please give these to the Duke of Broy and ask him to send the gendarmerie to Italy to investigate. I have written very clearly what to do."
"Yes, Your Highness!"
Emand left, and soon Lefebvre knocked on the door and entered, saluted Joseph, and said, "Your Highness, the American Volunteers have just arrived in the town of Kohler. There are more than 1,300 people."
"They are here. Joseph smiled and got up and said, "Please make arrangements. I will meet them in person.""
Lefebvre was a little surprised: "Your Highness, with all due respect, these Americans don't have much combat power. You don't seem to have to pay so much attention to it. . . . . ."
Joseph smiled and patted his arm: "No, they are like a rope that can drag the entire United States."
It should be said that this American army came just at the right time, and the British happened to be fighting them in front of them.
Half a month ago, as soon as the French army had cleared the area around Brussels, the Duke of York led 20,000 British troops to Antwerp.
On the other side, Franz II also transferred the Kleinfart Legion from Gelden, plus a Prussian army, totaling more than 35,000 people, to meet the remnants of Prince Coburg in Leuven.
Not counting the Dutch army at this time, the Anti-French Alliance had already assembled 63,000 troops around Brussels.
On Joseph's side, there are only 22,000 regular French troops, 13,000 newly joined Walloon defense forces, and less than 5,000 "surrendered" troops in the Flemish region.
A total of 40,000 troops. However, there are a large number of Walloon recruits who have just been recruited, and the Flemish army does not have to count on it, so there are only 30,000 people who can really fight.
There are still 14,000 Dutch troops in Brussels today, but their training level is very poor, and many of them have cooperated with the French army in the battle to overthrow William V., So the overall will to fight is relatively weak.
Joseph left the 7th Kilowatt Long Defense army to continue the siege of Brussels, while he led the main force south of Antwerp to form a confrontation with the Anglo-Austrian coalition.
Antwerp, Mechelen.
On the high ground behind the coalition forces, Count Kleinfart used binoculars to observe the French positions in the distance, and said loudly: "Now is obviously a good opportunity to attack. The French were not prepared to defend at all. I only saw a small number of stragglers wandering near their line of defense.
"General Davydovic has asked for help many times. We must try our best to break through the French line of defense, otherwise he may at any time. . . . . ."
The Duke of York glanced at him and said indifferently: "If you hadn't been with the Avalon army for five or six days before, we would have started the attack a long time ago."
Kleinfart stagnated immediately and looked at the sky embarrassedly.
When he came from the direction of Leuven, he was ambushed by the Walloon "police".
These Walloons were so fierce that he had to temporarily retreat to Leuven and wait for the Prussian army to set off together before repelling the opponent.
The Duke of York also raised his telescope: "My cavalry has detected that there are at least 30,000 French troops here. I must figure out where they are deployed."
He was talking, suddenly paused, and then said in a rare quick tone: "Damn, who is that?"
He turned his head and motioned to an officer not far away: "Lieutenant Colonel Svensson, I remember you fought in North America?"
"Yes, Your Highness. I only returned to China in 1783 and I have been there before."
The Duke of York immediately pointed to the French position in the distance: "Look at those flags, I think they look like Americans?"
Svensson only glanced in the binoculars and frowned: "The 12th Infantry Regiment of the Continental Army, and the Maryland Straggler Battalion. . . . . . It is indeed an American, Your Highness, I have fought with them."
Soon, the thousands of American soldiers, under the cover of the French cavalry, came to the forefront of the British position to provoke, and all kinds of English curses were vaguely audible.
At this moment, a British cavalry officer came to the side of the Duke of York, strangled the bridle, raised his hat and saluted: "Your Highness, I have repeatedly confirmed that there is no trace of the enemy within 8 miles around."
The Duke of York looked at the shabby-clothed Americans in the distance, his face gloomy, "Pass the order, prepare to launch a frontal attack."
There is no mistake, one song, one shot, one content, one look at it one by one!
Although he doesn't know what the French are planning, as long as there is no ambush around, then he can use his superior strength to defeat the opponent in one fell swoop!
The offensive plan was made a long time ago, and after only ten minutes, the two British infantry brigades on the front took the lead.
More than 60 cannons accompanied the infantry line slowly moving forward. In order to bring these heavy equipment, the British Army's marching speed was much slower, but now these cannons will bring them a huge advantage.
At the same time, the Prussian army outflanked the French from the right flank.
They have a huge strength advantage, so they can stretch the front longer.
It grew to a distance that the French army could not take into account, and then it was able to turn inward, forming a semi-encirclement with the British army on the front.
The French defensive position is located on a high ground, which is somewhat unfavorable to the attacker, but the Duke of York is confident that he can rely on the strength of his troops to make up for this disadvantage.
Moreover, the situation in Brussels is critical, and he can only launch a strong attack as soon as possible.
The American volunteers who were still arrogant just now only had a little contact with the British Army, and they immediately retreated to their own high ground.
They were used for "mental attacks", and Joseph was not prepared to let them fight any hard battles.
The advance of the British infantry brigade was not fast. They were waiting for the Prussian army on the flank to outflank them, and then launched an attack at the same time.
Half an hour later, the French cannons roared first.
The cannonball flew from 1.3 kilometers away, with a shrill scream, and accurately hit the British infantry line.
In an instant, flesh and blood flew everywhere, broken limbs ended up everywhere, and screams followed one after another.
The Duke of York didn't know yet that on the opposite heights was the French Royal First Artillery barracks.
The best artillery in Europe!
(End of this chapter)
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