Chapter 460: The Allies' Obligation
The expected loud bang did not happen.
Basel and Baron Walter both looked at the pistol, realizing at the same time—it had misfired.
Though flintlock pistols had become quite reliable, the sparks from the flint sometimes failed to ignite the gunpowder in the firing pan, leading to about a 10% chance of misfire. Basel had just encountered that unlucky 10%.
Walter froze for a moment, then quickly grabbed the courtesan next to him, using her as a shield while he turned to flee into the room, shouting at the top of his lungs:
"Help! Someone's trying to kill me!"
Basel, frustrated, quickly re-primed the flintlock and raised it again, only to see the terrified courtesan, Phini, blocking his shot.
Not wanting to harm her, he shoved her aside and moved forward, but by then, Walter had overturned a table and was hiding behind it.
In the hallway, Walter's bodyguard heard his cry for help and rushed over. As he rounded the doorway, he saw a man aiming a pistol at the overturned table, with his employer's shoes visible peeking out from behind it.
The bodyguard acted swiftly, pulling a knife from his belt and throwing it at Basel. At the same time, the music teacher finally reached the table and fired downward with all his might.
But instead of a satisfying bang, there was only a dull "pop," as the bodyguard's knife hit Basel, causing him to jerk slightly. The bullet grazed Walter's thigh, splintering a nearby cabinet and causing wood chips to fly. Walter screamed in pain.
Basel briefly smiled, thinking he had succeeded, but then a searing pain shot through his back, and he felt all his strength drain away as he collapsed to the side. His vision blurred, but he could vaguely see that bastard, Walter, covered in blood and screaming in agony.
"The devil of Vienna... I have slain him...," Basel's body convulsed as he muttered, "I love you... I hope you can be free..."
The bodyguard stepped into the room, glanced at the knife protruding from Basel's back, checked his pulse, and confirmed he was dead before hurrying over to the trembling Baron Walter slumped in the corner.
"Where are you hurt, sir?"
"I... I don't know... It hurts! I've been shot! Ahhh!"
The bodyguard steadied him and checked him over. Apart from some splinters embedded in his waist and legs and a piece of wood piercing his hand, there were no life-threatening injuries. He sighed with relief.
...
Schönbrunn Palace.
Emperor Joseph II, lying on his sickbed, listened to his brother Leopold II's words with great effort. He struggled to sit up, his eyes wide open.
A doctor quickly supported him, and the emperor, who hadn't spoken in nearly a week, weakly managed to say:
"Good! Good! Liegnitz... Banquet... I..."
Leopold II quickly continued:
"Your Majesty, are you asking for a banquet to celebrate the recapture of Liegnitz?"
Joseph II nodded weakly and tried to raise his hand:
"Reward... Laessig..."
"Yes, Your Majesty. I've already sent orders to reward Marshal Laessig," Leopold II said. "Currently, nearly 70,000 Allied troops are attacking the Breslau fortress."
"Good... good!" Joseph II's pale face broke into a smile. "I want... Silesia..."
With those words, it seemed as if he had exhausted all his strength and slumped back into the doctor's arms, falling asleep.
The doctor quickly checked the emperor's pulse and nodded at Leopold II:
"His Majesty is just very weak. Perhaps I should consider bloodletting treatment."
"Do whatever is necessary," Leopold II replied.
...
In a suite on the second floor of Schönbrunn Palace, the Austrian Crown Princess Ludovica looked on with concern at her brother, whose body was wrapped in bandages, especially his left hand, where only two fingers remained—the others had been amputated by the doctor.
Suddenly, the sounds of cheering came from outside. Baron Walter turned his head towards the window:
"Cousin, what are they celebrating?"
"It must be the victory at Liegnitz," Ludovica replied. "I heard Marshal Laessig won a battle there, killing nearly 2,000 of the enemy. Now, they're laying siege to Breslau."
Walter, clutching his wounded side, asked in disbelief: "How is that possible? Just last week, they said the situation in Silesia was dire, that even the lines were breached by the Prussians... How did things change so quickly?"
"Marshal Laessig's report mentioned that the French suddenly appeared on the flank of the Prussian forces attacking the lines, splitting the enemy..."
Walter froze and quickly asked, "Weren't the French surrounded at Oppeln?"
Ludovica sneered, "Who knows? They just suddenly broke out."
Walter grabbed her arm, suddenly alarmed: "So, the French Prince wasn't captured?"
"No," Ludovica said with a shrug. "The emperor even sent a letter of gratitude to him."
Walter's eyes widened in shock: "It was him... It had to be..."
"What are you talking about? Who was it?" Ludovica asked, concerned.
"That assassin... he mentioned him. I thought the prince had been captured or killed, so I didn't pay attention," Walter said, his voice filled with fear. "But now, it seems clear that the assassin was sent by him! Yes, that woman wanted revenge and begged him to kill me..."
Ludovica looked at him, alarmed: "Who exactly?"
"The French Prince!"
...
Liegnitz.
Joseph watched comfortably as Austrian troops took over the defensive positions. Berthier approached briskly and saluted:
"Your Highness, Marshal Laessig has sent supplies for the troops and... some women... He also requests that we move to Breslau as soon as possible."
Lowering his voice, he added, "From what I've heard, things aren't going too well for him there."
Joseph nodded:
"Send a message thanking Marshal Laessig for the supplies. As for heading to Breslau..."
He thought for a moment. It was already February, and while he couldn't recall the exact date of Joseph II's death, he knew it was very close.
"Tell him our troops need a half-month of rest after the prolonged battle, and then we'll move to reinforce him."
"Yes, Your Highness."
As Berthier turned to leave, Joseph called him back:
"One more thing—issue a secret order to General Kellermann to prepare his troops for an immediate return to France."
Currently, more than half of Kellermann's 30,000 soldiers were assisting Marshal Laessig in attacking Breslau.
"Ah?" Berthier was taken aback. "May I ask why?"
Joseph smiled slightly, "We can't get too entangled in Silesia. It's time for us to leave."
Berthier was shocked: "Your Highness, but won't that severely affect the Franco-Austrian alliance?"
"Don't worry," Joseph said calmly. "I'll handle the diplomatic side of things."
...
England.
London.
In the Parliament Hall of St. James's Palace, James Fox, leader of the Whig Party, pressed his hands firmly on the table and declared loudly:
"France is already practically at war! They have over 50,000 troops in Silesia. It's time for us to fulfill our military obligations to our Prussian allies!"
(End of Chapter)
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