Chapter 370: The Garbage Time of the Battlefield
King Charles II still looked puzzled. "But right now, there's no conflict between the French peasants and the nobles."
The Marquis of Wellesley waved the spoon in his hand as if it were a sword. "Then we must do something to disrupt their peace."
"What do you mean?" asked Charles.
"We'll issue a land purchase policy on behalf of the French government. I'll use my channels in Paris to spread the word among the nobles that the French government plans to give land to peasants at a very low price." Wellesley pointed at Vandernoot. "Your people, meanwhile, will tell the French peasants that the king intends to make them pay exorbitant sums to support the nobles for centuries."
"Once both sides are thoroughly dissatisfied, you can unite with the French liberals to lead the peasants in a revolt. France will be thrown into chaos!"
Vandernoot eagerly nodded, but then hesitated. "But, my Lord, won't the French government step forward to clarify things?"
Wellesley smiled. "In such a situation, unless they officially announce the land purchase plan, no one will believe their denials. And right now, no plan can satisfy both the peasants and the nobles. Whichever side feels wronged, we will support them in causing trouble. The only outcome for France will be a nationwide upheaval."
Namur, South of Brussels
André Davout, commander of the Moulins Corps, saw the Prince waiting to meet him from a distance. He quickly dismounted, walked briskly forward, removed his hat, and bowed deeply.
"You're looking well, Your Highness. The people in Luxembourg are all talking about how you defeated the Hanoverians in that battle. You've practically become a legend!"
"The victory belongs to every member of the Imperial Guard," Joseph replied with a smile, returning the bow. He patted Davout on the arm. "Now that the Moulins Corps is here in Brussels, I can rest easy. Let's head into the city. You'll have only three days to rest before moving to Rully to take up your post."
"The Moulins Corps is always at your service!" André replied loudly.
A few days earlier, Joseph had received a report from Versailles saying that the British Foreign Minister was scheduled to visit Paris in mid-October for discussions on several important matters between the two countries.
Joseph figured that the British must be in pain from the fires of war in India and were coming to seek peace. This was a matter of great importance, and he didn't trust his mother to handle it alone. So he decided to return to France for a while. It would also be a good opportunity to discuss France's broader strategic plans with her and prevent any potential disasters like the secret treaty attempt by the Russian ambassador.
Currently, the standoff on the Brussels front had entered "garbage time"—France was unwilling to launch an attack, and Charles II was unable to break through. Both sides merely fired a few shots each day and then withdrew.
So, even if Joseph left the Southern Netherlands, there shouldn't be any problems. But to be safe, he had ordered two regiments of the Moulins Corps from Luxembourg to Brussels. While the Moulins Corps wasn't as strong as the Imperial Guard, it was more than capable of handling the Hanoverian forces.
"How's the situation in Liège?" Joseph asked André as they rode side by side.
"I'd say it's rather dull," André replied, spreading his hands. "Lefebvre complains every day about not being able to launch a surprise attack on the Prussians. The Prussians, meanwhile, have built a long line of breastworks along the Liège-Loon border and have set up many cannons, but they haven't launched an attack in quite some time."
After learning that the Hanoverian army had been defeated and the front had stabilized near Brussels, Blücher lost his desire to continue fighting. Even if his forces defeated the Austrian army under Reuss, they would only end up in a standoff with the French in Brussels. He wanted to make his mark in Silesia, not waste time in the Southern Netherlands!
However, some fools in Prussia, likely led by Möllendorf and his ilk, kept pressuring the king, saying that Prussia must not accept the "humiliating situation" of being driven out of the Southern Netherlands by Austria.
Eventually, Blücher received orders from the king to drive back the Austrian forces from Luxembourg and reinforce Brussels as soon as possible.
But after being beaten back twice in attempts to attack Reuss, Blücher's troops, already demoralized by their earlier defeat at the hands of the Imperial Guard, lost the will to continue fighting. Reuss, knowing his limitations, was equally reluctant to attack. Lefebvre, following Joseph's orders not to annihilate the Prussian army, refrained from any major engagements.
Thus, the fighting in Liège also entered "garbage time."
After hearing André's detailed report on the situation along the Liège-Luxembourg front, Joseph was fully reassured.
The next morning, he set off for Paris.
Railway construction from Luxembourg to Verdun had already begun. As for Verdun, wooden tracks had already been laid during earlier preparations for the war. Beyond Verdun, a half-day carriage ride connected to the wooden tracks leading from Reims to Paris.
The entire journey took just over five days, with nearly two days spent in the Southern Netherlands. The ride on the wooden tracks was extremely smooth, and by the time Joseph arrived in the northern suburbs of Paris, he didn't feel the usual fatigue from long trips. He was ready to head straight to Versailles to attend to official business.
Since he hadn't notified Versailles in advance, there was no formal reception awaiting him. Joseph's carriage sped through the streets of Paris, where he could hear passersby discussing the recent French military victories. Around a corner, a group of children with wooden sticks burst out, shouting "Boom! Boom!" as they charged at another group of kids.
Sitting across from Joseph in the carriage, Émancipé looked out the window and said, "Your Highness, I've heard that this 'Crown Prince versus Prussians' game has become the most popular among children in Paris recently. My father mentioned it in a letter—my younger brother is already thirteen and still plays it obsessively."
He suddenly recalled that the Crown Prince had been leading police reforms at the age of thirteen and couldn't help but marvel.
"Perhaps he'll grow up to be an excellent soldier," Joseph said with a smile. "Maybe one day, he'll truly defeat the Prussian army on the battlefield."
"Thank you for your encouragement, Your Highness. I'll make sure he strives to do just that!" Émancipé replied earnestly.
The carriage soon entered the grounds of Versailles Palace. A court lady, spotting Joseph through the window, hurriedly lifted her skirts and ran towards the Petit Trianon, calling out to the Queen's maids, "The Crown Prince has returned!"
Before the nobles could gather around him, Joseph instructed his driver to head straight to his mother's chambers.
After enduring over half an hour of his mother's fussing—checking on his well-being, ensuring he had been eating properly, and even bringing out a newly developed Netherlands-style dessert from the royal kitchen—Joseph finally found an opportunity to discuss the important matters at hand.
(End of Chapter)
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