Chapter 323: The Guide to the Netherlands

Chapter 323: The Guide to the Netherlands

With advanced weapons, rigorous training, and high morale, the French Imperial Guard, disguised as Austrian soldiers, gained a significant advantage over the Prussian soldiers in terms of firepower!

As Bischoff, holding a telescope on the hill, watched, he saw over 800 "Austrians" break his nearly 1,000-man infantry line. The enemy had charged in columns, and despite his troops firing the first two volleys, they still couldn't withstand the rapid and concentrated fire from the "Austrians."

Quickly, Bischoff's expression grew even darker. Overconfident, he had positioned the second infantry line too far forward, so when the first line broke, it crashed into the second, causing chaos.

At this time, infantry tactics involved arranging soldiers into multiple lines, usually three, to ensure that if the first line failed, the second could step in and regroup the retreating troops. This method prevented an entire army from collapsing due to one line's failure—a possibility that could occur if an officer was distracted or otherwise incapacitated.

Watching from afar, Lieutenant Colonel Altmann saw Bischoff's unit struggling and quickly ordered his reserves forward to support them, feeling relieved that he had held some troops back. He also sent word to request cavalry assistance.

Lefebvre, observing through his telescope, smiled as he saw the Imperial Guard pushing back the Prussian infantry, who had outnumbered them. But his smile faded as he glanced at Reál's troops lagging behind. Even with the French gaining ground just a few hundred yards away, these Austrians, beaten down by Blücher, showed no initiative to advance and exploit the victory.

As the Imperial Guard continued firing three volleys at the Prussian second line, Lefebvre noticed more Prussian soldiers arriving as reinforcements. Weighing his options, he decided to pull back the forward-pressed Imperial Guard.

Lefebvre couldn't be sure if the Prussians had reserves left, and if they did, advancing too far with fewer troops might result in his forces being surrounded, especially since his cavalry had already expended much energy earlier.

Prince Joseph had ordered Lefebvre to hold this position until noon the next day. He couldn't afford to lose too many troops before then, particularly because the Prussian main force could appear at any moment, leading to a difficult battle for which he needed to be prepared.

On the Prussian side, Altmann was relieved that the "Austrians" didn't pursue. He quickly ordered Bischoff's troops to fall back and regroup, keeping a wary eye on the enemy on the opposite slope.

As night fell, both sides withdrew to set up camp.

Blücher received word of Altmann's failed attack and was puzzled. How had Reál suddenly become such a strong fighter? He concluded that Altmann must have made some error due to overconfidence and prepared to reprimand the colonel in the morning. However, seeing the approaching dusk, he decided to hold off until dawn.

Meanwhile, the main force of the Imperial Guard, still ten kilometers away, continued marching even as the sun set. Having stayed outside the Prussian cavalry's scouting range, Blücher was still unaware of the 10,000-strong army approaching.

Joseph knew that continuing to advance would likely bring them into contact with the Prussians. As darkness fully set in, the Imperial Guard finally made camp in a flat forested area, while Joseph and the staff officers lit lamps and continued planning late into the night. New intelligence had just come in, necessitating adjustments to their tactics—a clear advantage of the staff system, which ensured even the highest commander couldn't "slack off."

"Your Highness, since Lefebvre gained the upper hand," Berthier suggested as he examined the Prussian army's stretched-out formation on the map, "we could afford to be more aggressive."

He pointed to the east of Wanseler, "We could send a detachment of cavalry to attack the enemy's rear, while the rest of the troops cut into the Prussian center. Lefebvre's corps might suffer heavier losses, but I believe he can block Blücher's westward retreat, allowing us to crush the Prussian main force from both sides!"

Joseph, however, gently pressed Berthier's hand down on the map, smiling, "General, there's no need to rush to annihilate the Prussian army. In fact, if Blücher makes a mistake, we may even need to let him escape. I've already contacted Henri Vonck, who will serve as our 'guide.'"

Henri Vonck was a conservative leader of the Southern Netherlands uprising. Currently sidelined by the more liberal Vandernoot due to differing views on the country's future, Vonck had nearly fallen out of power.

Berthier, accustomed to Prince Joseph's odd terms, didn't dwell on the word "guide" but was shocked as he asked, "Your Highness, why would you let the Prussians go? Are you worried about the political implications?"

Joseph assumed a mysterious expression, deliberately lowering his voice, "If Blücher's army is destroyed, we would have no reason to enter the Southern Netherlands. He's our 'guide,' after all."

"Huh?"

Joseph didn't clarify, instead turning to the staff officers, "Our primary goal is to retake Luxembourg while keeping Lefebvre's losses to a minimum. With that in mind, let's discuss the tactical details."

"Yes, Your Highness."

The next morning, Blücher personally rode through the camp, urging his soldiers to break camp quickly. He was worried that after Bischoff's defeat, Reál might slip away.

Nearly an hour later, the Prussians had packed up their tents, aligned their wagons, and began marching to the beat of the drums.

Blücher glanced at the still-rising sun, feeling satisfied with their pace. If all went well, they would engage Reál's forces by 3 p.m.

What he didn't know was that Joseph had already led the Imperial Guard out nearly forty minutes earlier. Having camped without tents, they began marching at first light, with fewer supply wagons than the Prussians, moving swiftly towards the enemy.

(End of Chapter)

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