Chapter 442 Stubbornness and Conservatism
"Your Highness, what suggestions do your generals have for this plan?" Leopold II asked hesitantly.
Although he was not very proficient in military affairs, he had at least attended a military academy for two years, and the battle plan just mentioned by the French Crown Prince sounded too radical.
Joseph smiled and said: "My opinion is their opinion."
"Okay, I understand." Leopold II lowered his head, took a sip of wine, and nodded, "I will seriously consider your plan and suggest that Marshal Lacy cooperate with you as much as possible."
"We will definitely win." Joseph raised his glass, "Here's to the Franco-Austrian Alliance."
"Respect the Franco-Austrian Alliance."
While Joseph and Crown Prince Shinra were talking about the war in Silesia, a pair of eyes in the corner of the ball hall were looking viciously at Camelia, who was standing behind him.
"Smelly bitch!" the owner of those eyes whispered through gritted teeth, "I will definitely make you and your French master pay the price!"
This man was Baron Walter, cousin of Leopold II's wife. After the last frame-up incident, he was grounded by his angry brother-in-law for more than a month, and he had just regained his freedom not long ago. And he also lost 150,000 florins for this incident, which was almost his entire net worth.
In fact, he could tolerate all this, but when he boasted to his friends that the girl could not escape his grasp, and was ridiculed by them afterwards, it made him angry when he thought about it.
After secretly cursing and insulting him, he slumped down slumped. The whole of Austria was counting on the French to help them achieve a breakthrough in Silesia. Not to mention him at this time, even the brother-in-law had to be polite to the young man.
He didn't know that Camelia would also come. At this time, he had no interest in attending the ball, so he found an opportunity and slipped out of the hall.
…
Silesia.
Southwest border of Lignitz.
Marshal Lacy, the commander-in-chief of the Austrian army, handed the letter just sent from Vienna to the officer beside him and said with a sullen face:
"The French don't understand what war is at all. And the crown prince actually asked me to cooperate with them!"
General Wilmser took the letter in surprise, read it quickly, and suddenly showed a disdainful smile: "They are really crazy, they want to concentrate all the cannons on Ferhlabi?"
Naundorf, who was on the side, took the letter and immediately frowned:
"Moving all the artillery to the west will make our army lose its defensive capabilities on an extremely long front. Before we can launch an attack, Prussia People will break through our position first and even enter Kniggritz!”
Ferhlhrabi was the western side of the Prussian-Austrian line. Kniggritz is an Austrian province adjacent to Silesia.
Yes, according to Joseph's battle plan for Silesia, the first step is to end the artillery confrontation between the Prussian and Austrian armies.
The Prussian and Austrian sides each deployed more than 200 cannons on the long front. In this case, no matter how brave the army is and no matter how heavy the casualties are, it will be difficult to break through the opponent's defense line.
This is absolutely acceptable to Prussia, which wants to defend Silesia. For Austria, the attacker, this situation was a huge failure.
Therefore, after discussing with Berthier, he decided to gather the Austrian artillery scattered on a front line of dozens of kilometers and concentrate on blasting away the Prussian defense line.
After "cutting" a gap with the Prussian army, the Guards Corps could take advantage of circuitous penetration, break into the rear of Lignitz, and mobilize the Prussian army to intercept it. At this time, the main Austrian force can choose the area where the enemy's main force has been transferred, concentrate its forces to launch a surprise attack, and take down those artillery positions.
As for Naundorf's worry that "the Prussians will attack first", not to mention that there will be a delay in Prussia's intelligence collection, even if they really take the initiative to attack, it will actually be a good thing for Austria.
If the Prussians left their artillery defenses, the Franco-Austrian forces would have a chance to attack their effective forces. You can even use the method of "encirclement and reinforcements" to attract more Prussian troops.
Joseph is still very confident in the Guards Corps' ability to fight contact warfare. As long as the gap in strength is not too large, the Guards Corps can quickly defeat any Prussian unit.
Of course, this combat plan was too risky in the eyes of the Austrian military. After all, the thinking of old-school officers like Lacy was still stuck in the Seven Years' War. He had not studied the battles in North Africa or the Southern Netherlands in detail in the past two years, so he would definitely come to the conclusion that the defense line could not be tightened. And he was originally good at playing defensive battles, and this situation is his favorite now.
Three days later.
In the headquarters of the Austrian Silesian Front, Joseph looked helplessly at the officers of the General Staff:
"So, do you have any suggestions now?"
At the just-concluded Franco-Austrian military conference, Marshal Lacy completely rejected the combat plan proposed by Joseph, and his attitude was very firm.
Lefebvre shook his head and said: "The Austrians actually want to gather 100,000 troops to attack Karpacz."
"Unless Prussia is so slow as to turn a blind eye to the movement of tens of thousands of people, such an attack will only increase unnecessary casualties."
Someone suggested: “Or we could get Vienna to put pressure on Lacy?”
Berthier sighed: "I'm afraid this will not be easy to do. Marshal Lacy's prestige in the Austrian military is very high. Unless His Majesty Joseph II gives the order in person, it will be difficult for others to command him."
Everyone was silent. In his current state, Joseph II is only awake for one or two hours a day and is completely unable to speak.
"Did you just mention prestige?" Joseph suddenly thought of something and looked at Berthier, "I think of a general who is very prestigious in the Austrian army."
"You mean General Leo?"
"That's right."
Joseph nodded and thought:
"The current deadlock must be broken. And General Leo is the only Austrian officer who is not affected by Marshal Lacy."
Just kidding, General Leo was a hero who turned the tide and regained the Southern Netherlands, led his army into Brussels, and drove Van der Noort to the Netherlands.
Of course, this is actually the result of Joseph's deliberate "star-making", but the Austrians who do not know the inside story have already regarded him as the "Spear of the Southern Netherlands".
"But, Your Highness, Leo's command ability..." Lefebvre, as an "old comrade" who has cooperated with Leo many times, knows his details very well, "To be honest, I'm afraid it will be difficult to bear any heavy responsibility."
Joseph nodded and looked at the map on the table: "However, sometimes a general who cannot defeat the enemy also has his merits.
"As long as he is Austria's 'Spear of the Southern Netherlands,' I think he can stir up the deadlock in Silesia."
(End of chapter)