Chapter 370: Garbage Time on the Battlefield
Karl II still looked puzzled: "However, there is currently no conflict between farmers and nobles in France."
Marquis Wellesley waved the spoon in his hand at him, as if it was his sword: "Then let's do something to break the peace between them."
"You mean?"
"We enact a land redemption policy on behalf of the French government. I will activate channels in Paris to promote to the nobles that the French government will distribute land to farmers at very low prices."
The Marquis of Wellesley pointed to Vandernott, "Your people go and tell the French peasants that the king has decided to let them pay the cost of supporting the nobles for hundreds of years.
"When both sides are extremely dissatisfied, you will unite with the liberals in France and lead the peasants to riot. France will surely fall into chaos!"
Van der Noort immediately nodded excitedly, then hesitated and said: "Your Majesty the Marquis, the French government will definitely stand up and refute the rumors."
Wellesley smiled: "In this case, unless they officially announce the land redemption plan, no one will believe it no matter how they refute the rumors.
"At the moment, no redemption plan can satisfy both the peasants and the nobles. We will support whichever party makes trouble if the plan touches the interests of the party.
"All France can get is chaos sweeping the country!"
…
The city of Namur, south of Brussels.
Andre Davout, the commander of the Mulan Army, saw His Royal Highness the Crown Prince coming to greet him from a distance. He quickly jumped off his horse, walked forward quickly, took off his hat and bowed:
"You look really good, Your Highness. Now everyone in Luxembourg is talking about the battle you defeated the Hanoverians. You have almost become a legend!"
"Victory belongs to everyone in the Guards Corps." Joseph smiled and nodded in return, patting his arm again. "I am completely relieved when the Mullan Corps comes to Brussels. Let's go, let's go into the city first. You just I can rest for three days, and then I will go to Luli Town to garrison.”
"The Mulan Army is at your service at any time!" Andre immediately shouted.
Joseph received a report from the Palace of Versailles a few days ago, saying that the British Foreign Secretary will visit Paris in the middle of next month to discuss some important matters between the two countries.
Joseph estimated that the British were hurt by the war in India, and they came to seek peace. This matter was of great importance, and leaving it to his mother would definitely not work, so he decided to return to the country. In addition, I can also take the opportunity to communicate with my mother about France's major strategies, in case there is a dangerous situation like the last time the Russian ambassador tried to conclude a secret treaty.
At present, the front-line confrontation in Brussels has entered "garbage time" - France is unwilling to launch an attack, and Karl II is unable to attack - both sides fire a few shots at the opposite side casually every day, and then withdraw their troops.
So even if he leaves Southern Netherlands, there shouldn't be any problems here.
However, for the sake of safety, he transferred two regiments of the Mulan Army stationed in Luxembourg. Although the combat effectiveness of the Mulan Army is not as good as that of the Guards Army, it is more than enough to deal with the Hanoverian Army.
"How's the situation in Liege?" Joseph looked at Andre, who was riding alongside him.
"It should be said that it is rather boring." Andre spread his hands. "Lefebvre complained every day why he could not raid the Prussians. On the other hand, Prussia built a long and narrow parapet along the border between Liege and Long. They set up a lot of artillery, but they haven't attacked for a long time." After Blücher learned that the Hanoverian army was defeated and the battle line had stabilized around Brussels, he lost his will to continue fighting. Even if Bian can defeat Leo's Austrian army, he will later be in a confrontation with the French army in Brussels. What he wants is to go to Silesia and make achievements, not waste time in the Southern Netherlands!
However, some idiots in Prussia, probably Molendorf and others, kept telling His Majesty the King that they would never accept the "humiliating situation" of being driven out of the Southern Netherlands by Austria.
Finally, he received an order from the king to repel the Austrian army in Luxembourg and reinforce Brussels as soon as possible.
Blücher's troops had been severely beaten by the Guards Corps before, and their morale was low. After trying to attack Leo and being repelled twice, they lost the will to continue the attack.
Leo knew his own disadvantages and was unwilling to attack. Lefebvre received orders from Joseph not to annihilate the Prussian army on a large scale.
As a result, the battle in Liege also started "garbage time".
After Joseph got the detailed information about the Liège-Luxembourg line from Andre, he was completely relieved.
Early the next morning, he returned to Paris by car.
Construction of rail transit from Luxembourg to Verdun has begun. As for the Verdun side, the wooden track had been built in preparation for the war.
After leaving Verdun, it takes half a day by carriage to continue on the wooden track connecting Reims to Paris.
The entire trip took just over 5 days, of which nearly 2 days were spent in the Southern Netherlands. Moreover, the driving on the wooden track was extremely smooth. When he arrived in the northern suburbs of Paris, Joseph did not feel as tired as when he went on a long trip before, and he could immediately go to the Palace of Versailles to do business.
Since the Palace of Versailles was not notified in advance, no guard of honor came to greet him.
Joseph's motorcade passed quickly through the streets of Paris, and from time to time passers-by could be heard talking about the two major victories of the French army not long ago. Four or five children suddenly rushed out from the street corner. They held wooden sticks and made a "bang bang" sound from their mouths as they charged towards another group of children.
Eman, who was sitting on the opposite side of the carriage, looked out the window and said to Joseph: "Your Highness, it is said that the most popular game among children in Paris these days is the game of 'Dauphin vs. the Prussians.' I grew up with my father. From what I saw in the letter, my younger brother is 13 years old and he still has fun playing it.”
He suddenly remembered that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was leading police reform when he was 13 years old, and he couldn't help but sigh.
"Maybe he will become an excellent soldier when he grows up." Joseph smiled, "and really defeat the Prussian army on the battlefield."
Emang said hurriedly: "Thank you for your encouragement, Your Highness. I will definitely urge him to work hard!"
The car quickly drove into the Palace of Versailles. A palace lady saw Joseph's figure from the car window, quickly picked up her skirt and ran to the Little Trianon Palace, shouting to the queen's maid: "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is back. "
Before Joseph could wait for the nobles to gather around him, he ordered the coachman to go directly to his mother's palace.
After Queen Mary greeted her for more than half an hour and asked her servants to bring the Dutch-style dessert recently developed by the royal chef, Joseph finally found a chance to talk about business.
(End of chapter)