Chapter 840: A Perfect Plan
Joseph nodded. "Yes, the Fourth Infantry Division will be the first to reach the Ardennes Plateau."
Masséna was overjoyed, pumping his fist discreetly. "Excellent! With reinforcements of that caliber, we can finally launch a counteroffensive against Ferdinand!"
On paper, the Coalition still commanded nearly 140,000 men even after the defeat of the Thuringian and Upper Hessian forces. However, 30,000 of those were under the Duke of York, and they had only just reached the northern edge of the Ardennes, having yet to enter the fray.
Furthermore, another 15,000 troops were tied down besieging the Luxembourg fortress. This meant the actual main force operating on the Ardennes Plateau numbered only about 95,000.
Once the Army of the Southern Netherlands arrived, the number of troops under Masséna’s command would reach 83,000.
If he recalled the 5,000 men from Oudinot’s legion currently hunting in the outskirts, his total strength would climb to 88,000.
Here in the Ardennes, the French numbers would be almost equal to those of the Coalition.
When the numbers were comparable, the superior combat effectiveness of the French army would allow them to utterly crush their opponents.
Given these circumstances, Masséna felt a surge of confidence that he could achieve a massive victory in Luxembourg.
Frederick was the given name of the Duke of York.
Masséna had previously hesitated to counterattack because of the disparity in numbers, but also because he feared that if he were locked in a stalemate with the Brunswick Legion at Luxembourg, he would be vulnerable to a pincer attack once the Duke of York arrived from the north.
Now that an elite force was available to block the Duke of York, the entire strategic landscape had shifted.
However, the Fourth Infantry Division only had about 10,000 men. Holding off the Duke of York’s 30,000 troops for ten days would be no simple task.
Joseph considered this for a moment, then shook his head. "I don’t believe it’s necessary for the Fourth Infantry to handle the interception."
Joseph continued, "The Walloon and Artois Legions, combined with the American volunteers, give us 18,000 men. That should be more than enough to delay Frederick for ten days. The Duke of York’s troops have marched all the way from Antwerp and must be exhausted. Meanwhile, our men can utilize the terrain at Burgplatz Peak to establish a defensive line."
Burgplatz Peak was the highest point in the north-central Ardennes. Though it stood at barely five hundred meters above sea level, it remained a formidable geographical advantage.
Masséna’s expression relaxed further. "If they can complete that mission, we might not even need ten days to secure a decisive victory."
With the Royal Fourth Infantry Division joining his offensive lineup, the tactical options available to him expanded significantly.
He continued, "My forces will abandon the frontal defensive line, then surge down the Ardennes Plateau from Diekirch and Redange, launching a pincer movement against the enemy’s rear. If all goes well, we can cut Ferdinand’s forces in half, or at the very least, sever their supply lines. Then, utilizing our superior combat power, we can steadily compress the enemy toward the southwest..."
He sighed with a touch of regret. "It is a pity the enemy has surrounded the Luxembourg fortress. We cannot currently establish contact with General Berthier. If he could launch a simultaneous counterattack from the city, it would deal a devastating blow to the enemy."
Joseph nodded. "The forces inside Luxembourg City are indeed being underutilized."
Masséna spoke with a hint of self-reproach. "I was worried that the besieging forces were too numerous, so I sent Major Soult with a regiment to bolster the defenses there. Otherwise, we would have even more troops available for the counteroffensive..."
Joseph’s eyes narrowed slightly at that detail. "You say Major Soult is inside the Luxembourg fortress?"
"Yes, Your Highness."
Joseph couldn't help but smile. "In that case, perhaps those troops won't go to waste after all."
While Joseph lacked complete faith in Berthier’s independent command of a legion, having Soult there changed everything.
Soult, whom Napoleon would later rank as one of his 'top three' marshals, was renowned for his composure and sharp intuition. His ability to seize the right moment on the battlefield put him in the top tier of European generals.
Joseph was confident that Soult would recognize the perfect moment to prompt Berthier into action.
With Soult there, the battle for Luxembourg would follow the exact rhythm Masséna desired.
As Joseph listened to Masséna detail the subsequent operational deployments, a new thought struck him. He raised a hand to interrupt.
"Perhaps we can place even more trust in General Berthier and Major Soult."
Masséna looked at him, surprised. "What do you mean, Your Highness?"
Joseph explained, "Once we cut off the enemy at the Diekirch line, if the Duke of Brunswick reacts quickly enough, he might immediately retreat north across the Sauer River. If that happens, we will eventually be forced into another major confrontation later on."
Masséna nodded in agreement.
The Coalition had nearly a hundred thousand men. Even if their rear was ambushed, the Duke of Brunswick could potentially rally sixty or seventy thousand troops to retreat. If he then merged with the Duke of York and held the line along the Sauer River, the French would face a grueling struggle to advance into the Rhineland.
Joseph continued, "We should focus our attention on annihilating the Coalition’s manpower. For instance, we could lure the Duke of Brunswick’s legion deeper into the Ardennes, while assigning the primary offensive task to General Berthier’s side."
Masséna was a military genius in his own right. No sooner had the words left Joseph’s mouth than a specific operational plan began to take shape in his mind. 'You mean we should feign a defeat and retreat into the Ardennes, drawing the enemy’s main force into the area southwest of Wiltz? Then, General Berthier can lead the troops out of Luxembourg, strike north behind the enemy, cross the Sauer River to hit Trier, and then strike directly for Koblenz.'
Koblenz was the most vital crossing point on the northern stretch of the Rhine. Occupying it would not only cut off the Coalition’s path of retreat back to the east bank of the Rhine but also provide a bridgehead for further incursions into the German heartland.
As Masséna spoke, a spark of excitement lit up his eyes. "Once the Duke of Brunswick hears the news, chaos will surely break out in his ranks. Our forces can then launch a pursuit through the Ardennes..."
He shook his head, refining the thought. "No, given our mobility, if we deploy in advance, we should be able to intercept the main Coalition force south of the Sauer River... Or, if the enemy retreats from Burgplatz Peak back toward Geldern, we can leave the Walloon Legion there to block them..."
He suddenly looked at Joseph with a serious expression. "Your Highness, I must admit that the plan you have proposed is the truly perfect one! Our army will maintain the initiative throughout. We will not only be able to capture Koblenz rapidly but also avoid a costly, frontal war of attrition."
Joseph felt a bit embarrassed by the praise. He had only suggested the general direction; the detailed operational plan was entirely the result of Masséna’s own brilliance.
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