Chapter 840: Morale
As the two men spoke, the sound of gunfire from the front became increasingly distinct.
Joseph looked up and saw the French artillery positions not far away, belching tongues of fire. This meant they were less than a kilometer from the front lines of the engagement.
Just then, the roar of the Coalition cannons to the southeast began to dwindle, falling completely silent a few moments later.
A long bugle call echoed across the French lines, followed by the skirl of bagpipes. It was the signal that the enemy had retreated.
Joseph checked the position of the sun and gestured to Masséna. "Let us go and say hello to the men on the front lines."
Masséna hurriedly moved to block him. "Your Highness, you truly cannot go any further. If you wish to inspect the troops, I will have the soldiers come here to meet you. In any case, the enemy is unlikely to launch another attack today."
He was genuinely terrified that a stray shell might suddenly strike the Crown Prince. If that happened, he wouldn't even have a place to cry.
Unable to sway him, Joseph simply pointed to a flat clearing next to the artillery battery. "There, then."
...
"Is it not ready yet?" He looked at his comrade beside him. "Honestly, I think stewing it for a shorter time would be fine. The meat would have more of a bite to it."
A sergeant walked over and chuckled. "Just wait a little longer. I heard the Colonel ordered Old Simon to make us an extra dish of scrambled eggs with corn because of our outstanding performance in today's battle."
Aurore swallowed again. "Excellent. I am going to mix it into my mashed potatoes..."
"Oh, you always love turning gourmet food into something that looks like pig slop," André teased from the side. "Can you just not forget your old days of raising pigs?"
"Damn it, I told you not to mention the pigs!"
As the two were bickering, their company commander ran over, breathless. He pointed behind them and shouted, "Quick! Fall in! The—The Crown Prince is here!"
The soldiers were stunned. Someone asked, "Do you mean His Highness the Crown Prince is actually here?"
"Yes!" the commander yelled, waving his arm vigorously. "His Highness is right over by the cannons. The Colonel said the Prince wants to see us!"
The soldiers immediately erupted into cheers. "The Crown Prince has come to see us!"
"My God, is His Highness really here? Long live the Crown Prince!"
"Aha, it must be because we gave those Prussians such a thrashing today that we've earned His Highness's praise..."
"Stop your blabbering, the sun is almost down! Move it!"
Joseph was the idol of every French soldier, especially within the New Army. They spoke almost daily of the victories the Crown Prince had led them to in the past.
Hearing that the Crown Prince had personally come to the front to visit them, the soldiers were so excited they forgot everything else.
They formed up with incredible speed and, following the beat of the drums, jogged toward the artillery position.
As Aurore passed the field kitchen, he could practically hear the meat broth bubbling in the pots, but he didn't even turn his head. He only grumbled to André, "Damn it, the Prussians shot a hole through my hat. Oh, God, why do I have to meet His Highness looking so ridiculous?"
"I can help you ask for leave." The latter gave a wicked grin and pretended to raise his hand. "Sergeant, Aurore says he..."
Aurore hurriedly grabbed his arm and glared. "I swear, I will duel you when we get back, you bastard!"
Before long, their company arrived at the artillery battery.
Seven or eight companies had already gathered there. The soldiers stood with their chests puffed out as far as they would go, terrified that the Crown Prince might not notice them.
Joseph, dressed in a hussar officer's uniform, was sitting on the wheel of a 12-pounder cannon, smiling and waving at the soldiers. "Relax, everyone. This isn't combat time."
He hopped down from the cannon and walked past the men, raising his voice. "First, some good news. I have brought what you all want most.
"No, it isn't brandy, and it certainly isn't pretty girls.
"Though once you return to Paris, I am sure you won't be lacking for girls."
He gestured toward the west. "I have brought reinforcements! Nearly forty thousand of them!
"You won't have to stay in this wretched place taking enemy shells much longer. We will soon launch our counter-attack! We are going to cross the Rhine and strike straight at the heart of the Germans' homeland!"
Joseph pumped his fist. "With the rifles in your hands and your indomitable courage, you will make the enemy tremble at the mere sound of 'Glory and Victory'!
"Perhaps one day, when the children in Potsdam and Vienna cry and refuse to sleep, their mothers will sing this song to frighten them into silence."
The soldiers all burst into laughter.
Joseph suddenly noticed the bullet hole in Aurore's hat. He stepped forward, took it off the soldier's head, and nodded. "I like this 'medal.' Can you give it to me?"
The soldier's breathing quickened, and he nodded frantically. "Of course, Your Highness! Of course! It is my honor!"
Joseph took off his own hat and placed it on Aurore's head. "Thank you. Take this in exchange. I hope you like it."
He turned and jumped back onto the gun carriage, holding up the perforated hat. "Do you know what the Austrian newspapers are saying?
"They say, 'The Sun of France is destined to fall.'
"But I want to tell them that standing before me are thousands of suns! With your brilliant light, you shall blind them and illuminate all of France!"
Aurore felt the blood rush to his head. He waved his hand and screamed at the top of his lungs, "Long live France! Long live the Crown Prince!"
The surroundings immediately erupted in a tidal wave of cheers.
"Long live the Crown Prince!"
"Blind those Germans!"
"For France! For the Crown Prince!"
"Onward to Vienna!"
Masséna felt his own heart swelling. Looking at the soldiers, whose excitement was so great that steam seemed to rise from their heads in the cool air, he was overjoyed by the terrifyingly high morale.
He believed that if the Crown Prince ordered these men to march on Vienna right now, they would charge across the Rhine without a moment's hesitation.
The next morning.
The Duke of Brunswick finished brushing his teeth but suddenly realized something was wrong. He frowned and turned to his staff officer. "Where are my cannons? Why haven't I heard any shelling?"
The officer was equally puzzled and went to question the scouts. A moment later, he rushed back and shouted, "Marshal! The French retreated under the cover of night!"
Suppressing his inner elation, the Duke of Brunswick went to the front to confirm for himself. Only after the empty French positions appeared in his telescope did he assume an air of calm and turn to his herald. "The French held out several days longer than I expected. Order Blücher's corps to begin the pursuit immediately!"
"Yes, Marshal."
It seemed the French morale had collapsed. After abandoning the Eschdorf line, they continued to flee toward Buderscheid the following day under the heavy pressure of the Prussian offensive.
The Duke of Brunswick arrived at the former French positions at Eschdorf. He stepped with satisfaction on the scraps of discarded flags littering the ground and told his herald, "Order an attack from the direction of Kautenbach simultaneously. I want to have dinner in Wiltz by the day after tomorrow."
Just then, Scharnhorst walked over quickly, tipped his hat in salute, and said cautiously, "Marshal, I find the recent behavior of the French army to be... unusual."
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